Hart turned out 348 times for the City between 2006 and 2018 and was integral in our 2012 and 2014 Premier League title wins, as well as in our most recent FA Cup triumph in 2011.
A former teammate of Lescott and SWP, the duo are both hopeful that Pep Guardiola’s men will face the Scottish champions, although they also qualified that there will be no room for sentimentality should the two sides lock horns.
Previewing Thursday’s draw in the Matchday Live studio, they both pointed out that there are no easy draws in Europe’s elite competition.
“I’ve been there as a fan to watch friends play. It’s an amazing place to be on a Champions League night,” Lescott said of Celtic’s home ground, Celtic Park.
“To go there and potentially play against Joe, I imagine that’d be sentimental for him but he’ll also be determined to win the game.
“Celtic’s record at home in the Champions League is unique to most teams.
“Top teams have gone there and struggled. Nobody is going to want to go there.”
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Wright-Phillips echoed Lescott’s sentiments, but also added that he is confident that City can get the better of any side when we hit our stride.
He said: ““I think the way we play, we know we’re going to create chances.
“I think with Erling Haaland now in the team we also have an out and out goalscorer and in the Champions League it’s very rare, especially away that you’ll see a team sit deep.
“I think we’ll see a lot of space for him to go into. [But] In general, City have so much depth and quality. We don’t rely on one individual player, the team relies on the system and play it perfectly.”
Hear Joleon and Shaun preview Thursday’s Champions League draw in full via the video above…
Champions League Group Stage draw
The draw for the 2022/23 Champions League group stages takes place at 17:00 (UK) on Thursday 25 August.
For more details on the draw and who City could face, click here.
