Messi could be ‘greatest’: Rodgers

City drew 1-1 at Borussia Moenchengladbach and can not now topple Barcelona, which secured first place in Group C by beating Celtic 2-0 thanks to Lionel Messi’s double. The Red Devils are now set to table a bid for the 20-year-old when the transfer window opens in January. However, despite Messi and co performing in attack, defensively they were a little stretched at times by Brendan Rodgers’ side.

“First and foremost for us it was about getting into the Champions League”.

“The first goal I was disappointed with, but the quality and speed of movement caught us out”.

“It’s just about maintaining that standard”. “I’m in the best team in the world, [Barca] don’t depend on one player”.

Lionel Messi’s prodigious talent is matched by his startling humility, which he displayed again on Thursday by denying that Barcelona’s fate is determined by his presence in the team.

“I think the natural tendency and the lovely thing would be for him to start and to finish his career at Barcelona. What Luis is brilliant at is around the box he provokes the defenders”, Rodgers said.

“I think that he’s leaning into Emilio Izaguirre, who is trying to fight for his space”.

Luis Enrique also replaced Neymar with 13 minutes to go after the Brazilian star was booked following a rift with Celtic right-back Mikael Lustig, prompting jeers of the home fans as he walked towards the bench.

“What this level introduces to you is the key moments, and it shows you when moments arise in the game you have to take them. To do that with a game in hand in one of the toughest groups in the competition is something to be commended”, the Barcelona boss added. We were good at the break and improved as the game went on.

They travel to in-form Real Sociedad on Sunday, who they have not beaten away from home in the league since 2007.

Bayern surprisingly lost 3-2 at tournament newcomer FC Rostov and will finish in Group D behind Atletico Madrid, which beat PSV Eindhoven 2-0 and is the only team to have won all five of their group games.

Qualifying for the last 16 in a slightly less-comfortable fashion, Manchester City have made it thanks to a somewhat unconvincing 1-1 draw with German side Borussia Monchengladbach.

He was subbed moments after clashing with Lustig, but his manager played down the incident.

Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers had impressed upon his players not to give their illustrious opponents too much respect as they had done in Barcelona and they were certainly not humiliated in the same manner as they were in September.