With group toppers Barcelona having already qualified to the round of 16 along with second place Manchester City, it was an opportunity for Pep Guardiola to experiment with new tactics which have quite often failed this season.
With the visitors from Scotland assured of finishing at the bottom of the group, it was nothing to lose for Brendan Rodgers’ side as they were up for a stern challenge. Celtic got off to a fine start and scored within 4 minutes through Manchester City loanee Patrick Roberts. However, the lead was short-lived with Kelechi Iheanacho providing a reply in the 8th minute. As the game progressed, both the teams had a lot to offer but failed to capitalise on the chances they created.
Also read: Manchester City 1-1 Celtic - Player Ratings
Nolito, who assisted Manchester City’s equaliser found the back of the net in the second half but was disallowed due to a tight but correct offside call. The Hoops came close to finding the winner through Gary Mackay-Steven late on, however, he denied by Willy Cabellero.
The Blues of Manchester now wait for the Champions League draw on Monday while Celtic shift their focus back on the domestic league.
Here are 5 talking points from the dead rubber between the two British sides at the Etihad:
5) Moussa Dembele is yet a raw product
Having scored a brace against the Blues of Manchester in the previous group fixture, Moussa Dembele’s return to England was a forgettable one. His teammates made their way through the chaotic Manchester City defence and assisted him with exquisite balls in the final third of the pitch, only to see them being denied by City shot-stopper Willy Cabellero on multiple instances.
The 20-year-old was a menace for newcomer Adarabiyo initially, leaving him untied with his movements and physicality but failed to make his way through the Blue shirts once they got settled.
While the Former Fulham lad already has 12 goals and 3 assists to his name this season, tonight’s performance showed his need for improvement. It’s fair to say it wasn’t his best night in a Celtic shirt, as he failed to replicate his previous performance against Manchester City.
4) Manchester City’s academy has immense depth
Pep Guardiola was once again keen to experiment with his new tactics, making as many as nine changes in the starting 11, with only Illkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane retaining their place. While three points would have pleased the Spaniard much, it was a satisfactory performance in the end from City’s men in Blue, as academy prospects, Pablo Maffeo , Tosin Adarabiyo and Iheanacho put on a decent show.
Transformed into one of the best youth academies in Europe due to the financial aid and impressive facilities, it’s an indication of City’s future going the right way. While they might have spent heavily on recruits in the summer transfer window, Manchester City must be proud of how Guardiola has shaped up his academy with the likes of Angelino and Aleix Garcia showing glimpses of their talent along with others.
Not to forget on loan players such as Oleksandr Zichenko, Enes Unal, Patrick Roberts and couple others who have already become the hottest prospects in Europe with their stints.
Guardiola has already presented and developed Barcelona’s La Masia academy into one of the best, and with City not far behind, it is a fantastic opportunity for him to do the same for the Citizens.
3) Iheanacho proves a point yet again
Having been handed a 4-match ban for his antics against Chelsea, Sergio Aguero was dropped despite having a long domestic break ahead of him. But that presented second choice striker Kelechi Iheanacho yet another chance of breaking into the first team.
And the Nigerian didn’t need much time to prove his hunger, scoring as early as the eighth minute to grant City the equaliser. He could have had much more to his name but saw a couple of his shots wide of the post. With 13 goals in 18 starts for the Citizens, the young lad’s performances are prompting Guardiola to give him more opportunities. Now that he has got it, Kelechi should continue to be prolific front of goal as he faces the risk of seeing his place being taken by new Brazilian sensation Gabriel Jesus next month.
2) Limited, but hopeful days ahead for Zabaleta
Unarguably Manchester City’s best player of the night, the right-back’s performance showed why Pablo Zabaleta has a lot of playing days left in him. While slotting at the right back position this season must have been challenging for him, the Argentine looked like he mastered the role of a midfielder.
Just like how Guardiola entrusted full back Phillip Lahm with a midfield role, Zabaleta wasn’t shy to boss the midfield in the absence of Fernandinho. With composed, dynamic and inventive traits, Zabaleta was dominant in both halves of the pitch, playing a box to box midfield role. The 31-year-old was at the helm, instigating attacks from the back for the Blues and certainly deserved the plaudits for his new role.
1) Pep can’t see the woods for the trees
Scoring goals might not be a problem for Manchester City but the Spaniard’s priority to focus solely on attacks has seen his side underperform at the back. City have kept just one clean sheet across 16 games this season, and that shows the Spaniard’s complacency towards the defence. Sagna was not accustomed at handing the central defender role along with the shaky Adarabiyo, who was exposed on many occasions by the Celtic frontline.
Though it looked like a strong line-up on paper, the team has found it difficult to attune towards Guardiola’s playing style. Kompany’s career has hit a low ever since his injury woes and uncertainty surrounds when he’ll make the squad again. The full-back roles have been a challenge for ageing veterans Zabaleta and Kolarov, while John Stones has looked undependable for his price tag along with the impetuous Otamendi.
With the winter transfer window arriving next month, the former Barcelona manager needs to make some decisive signings at the back to save his side this season.
