Celtic get back to Champions League duty when they take on Pep Guardiola’s mighty Manchester City on Wednesday in the second game of the Champions League group stage. The Blue half of Manchester is probably the happiest place in England right now after such a bright start to the season. Many touted Pep could potentially struggle in English football but the tactical mastermind has proven everyone wrong and winning each of his 10 games so far this season having scored 30 goals in the process.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were demolished 7-0 by Barcelona in their opening group stage fixture in the Champ0ions League. The Bhoys will be keen to avoid another rout against them when they face rampant Manchester City who defeated German giants Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 in their opening game. Celtic are on the back of an emphatic 6-1 win against Kilmarnock this weekend but Manchester City look too strong for the Glasgow giants.
However, Manchester City won’t have a walk in the park at Paradise. Celtic have troubled many big sides in the past at their home and who knows they might be able to come up with an upset! Here are three Celtic players whom we have to watch out for when the best in Scotland collide with the best in England.
Scott Brown
Big players always turn up at the biggest of occasions and it is indeed a big game for Celtic who are hosting a home game in the Champions League after two long years. Celtic skipper Scott Brown is a player we have to watch out for in this game. Manchester City play an attacking 4-1-4-1 formation and Fernandinho is likely to start as the only deep midfielder. If Scott Brown can dominate the Brazilian in midfield with his colleague Nir Bitton, Celtic can hope for a positive outcome from the game.
Scott Sinclair
Even though Manchester City have been scoring for fun this season, they have shown a vulnerability against quick counter attacks and Celtic should use this to their advantage. The Hoops are blessed with agile players like Sinclair, Forrest and Griffiths in attack who can hurt the Sky Blues on the break. Sinclair, especially, will be highly motivated for this game being a former Manchester City player himself. His career was frozen at the Etihad and he has a point to prove. The Englishman won’t have a better opportunity than this in a long time.
Kolo Toure
Age is nothing but a number and players like Kolo Toure prove this on a weekly basis. The former Manchester City star is still performing well at the age of 35 and is the leader of the Celtic backline.
The Ivorian is a rock-solid presence at the back for Celtic with his immense experience at the top level. The former Liverpool stopper knows the Manchester side inside out and can prove to be a stubborn customer for the likes of Aguero, Nolito and Sterling.
