Champions League: Celtic charged by UEFA over crowd disturbances

Manchester City’s troubled relationship with the Champions League was underlined when they finished their group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw against Celtic at the Etihad.

There was equally nothing riding on the outcome at the Etihad Stadium for bottom side Celtic, who produced a spirited display and were the better team for most of the first half.

Roberts admitted that he had taken some personal satisfaction after scoring at the home of the club who loaned him out nearly a year ago, but insisted that his main concern as long as he is a Celtic player is the welfare of the team. But the Argentine says he is happy to play wherever Guardiola asks him to. “He played well tonight”.

“So, I think more time will allow us to improve over the coming years and continually adding to the quality of the squad will also improve it”.

He said: “I’ve signed for Celtic for the season, so I’m trying to do my best for the team I’m playing for and always give 100 per cent”.

But he will not neglect the club’s young players after watching them race into a 2-0 lead in their UEFA Youth League tie with City with the help of a stunning strike from Theo Archibald, although they went on to lose 3-2.

The winger agreed an 18-month deal with the Scottish champions in January, before Guardiola arrived at City, and his chances of a successful future at the club appear to have been minimised by the summer signings of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus, among others.

“Before we played Celtic he said that it’s up to me now to fill that gap, to carry the team along”, Nigeria global Iheanacho told reporters.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 4pm on Tuesday 6 December 2016, a 27-year-old man was arrested in Piccadilly Gardens on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly”.

“You’ve got a young English talent, a big talent, and I’m sure there’ll be a big career for him here”.

City had already secured a place in the last 16 and were guaranteed to finish below Group C winners Barcelona, while fourth-place Celtic already knew they had missed out on a Europa League berth.

Celtic played with attacking verve and provided City with a constant threat. “They will be really encouraged with what they’ve seen here”.

“He played well, he’s a good player. Every game he wants us to press high and win the ball back as quickly as we can, go on the counter-attack and be very positive in the final third”, Roberts said.

Freed in turn by a sloppy Fernando back-pass and a neat James Forrest through ball, he was thwarted both times by Caballero, blazing wastefully wide of an open goal on the second occasion.