defeat to Chelsea, the Catalan boss saw encouraging signs.
The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson reported: “Pep Guardiola offered a glimpse of his unique vision of football when he said Manchester City have been better at times this season than his gilded Barcelona and Bayern Munich sides. Before the club’s final Champions League group match on Tuesday night, a dead rubber against Celtic, the word he chose to describe City’s finest passages of play under him was “faster” than Barça and Bayern.
“This may cause some surprise given the quality of those previous teams. Barcelona claimed 14 major trophies, including two Champions League titles, between 2009 and 2012 while the count at Bayern was seven in three seasons. In particular, the Barcelona side who swept all before them in Guardiola’s first season as manager are considered one of the finest in history.
“Yet just 23 matches into his City tenure, Guardiola was full of praise for his side despite their defeat by Chelsea on Saturday when they conceded three times in the final 30 minutes before Fernandinho and Sergio Agüero were sent off.
“’We play good – faster than in Munich and even in Barcelona, when we had one player [Messi], who was amazing and helped us to create those steps,’ he said. ‘In general, I am so satisfied in the short time we have been together. We attack with 10 players and try not to concede on the counterattack. I decide this because I did it all my career, attacking smaller spaces and defending bigger spaces. For that you need time but I am sure when you are able to do it you are more attractive and you are more safe.
“’Of course, we need time in a world we don’t have. But in general I’m satisfied. When we are talking about the last game, I’m so satisfied. I saw again the game and what we have to improve and how many things we did well.’”
Man City v Celtic: Where to watch
Man City learn FA Cup third round opponents
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s opposite number and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers spoke of the match – his side’s last in Europe this season - in terms of a yardstick of his side’s development
The Telegraph’s Roddy Forsyth reflects: “Like the celebrated headline which proclaimed - on the occasion of fog on the English Channel - that the Continent had been cut off, European involvement has receded beyond reach for Celtic on Tuesday evening.
“There is, however, no small matter of personal fulfilment to be gained from the meeting with Manchester City at the Etihad for Brendan Rodgers, his Celtic players, the Hoops support and the club’s board. It is a common view in England that Rodgers downgraded his CV by moving to Celtic, who are currently feeding like a ravenous piranha in the tiny goldfish pond of the Scottish game.”
The piece goes on to quote Rodgers’ view on the match.
“‘Win, lose, or draw, we’re looking to make a performance that can give us confidence going forward. It’s my optimistic look on the development of the team and the club.
“‘For us to develop we need these types of games. It’s a great game, brilliant stadium, pitch is perfect. It’s a big game, even though we’re disappointed that we’ve not got something to play for. Confidence at this level is vitally important also.’”
We’ll be back same time, same place on Wednesday for all the press reaction to the game.
