Pep Guardiola's fine start as Manchester City manager hit a noisy barrier at Celtic Park, where a limited home side ran their socks off to hold City to a 3-3 draw in Group C action in the Champions League on Wednesday. Celtic became the first team not to lose against Guardiola's Man City side. City, showing character to come back three times to equalise, were harried out of their stride and ended up chasing the three points to no avail. However, an away draw in Europe is never a bad result, unless the expectations have been nudged ever higher.
Positives
In the ultimate hostile atmosphere, City showed great character to come back three times and gain a draw. With Celtic's players racing into every 50-50 ball as if it were a life-or-death situation, it was imperative that City kept their cool -- not the easiest of tasks in a braying bear pit of a stadium.
Negatives
A lack of composure was almost inevitable, given the level of the home onslaught, but too many passes out of defence went astray and too many moments of hesitation at the back led to goals. Conceding three goals under Guardiola might prove to be something of a collector's item.
Manager Rating out of 10
8 -- Stuck to his guns and played the same side and the same formation that has prevailed in the Premier League so far this season. Seeing Gael Clichy being overrun at left-back, he brought on John Stones to allow the switch of Aleksandar Kolarov to the left side of defence, but City continued to look ragged at the back.
Player ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Claudio Bravo, 7 -- Launched his very first clearance into touch but was active early on, saving from Kolo Toure to stop Celtic going further ahead. Continued to pass out cleanly and crisply as the game wore on and became a significant barrier to the Celtic attack.
DF Pablo Zabaleta, 6 -- Became embroiled in a tricky early spat with ex-City man Scott Sinclair and was dragged infield for Celtic's second goal. Remained there for much of City's positive attacking later on.
DF Nicolas Otamendi, 7 -- Was very slow to find his man as City lost an early lead, but remained robust in front of Celtic's diminishing forward thrusts. Had two good chances at 2-2 and 3-3 to make the difference but was something of a spectator as the third goal sailed in.
DF Aleksandar Kolarov, 6 -- In the wars during the first 10 minutes with two penalised fouls, he was also caught out for the third goal, waving an ineffectual foot over the ball. With more emphasis on his defensive game, he began to look more vulnerable, resorting to un-Guardiola-like high balls out of defence.
DF Gael Clichy, 6 -- Found himself in a lot of trouble with the thrusting direct runs of James Forrest. Never quite settled and was conspicuously hooked to be replaced by Stones after 72 minutes.
MF Fernandinho, 7 -- A huge effort from the Brazilian. Ran himself into the ground covering the eager Tom Rogic. Scored a mishit equaliser for 1-1 and hit an absolute screamer just over in the dying seconds. A significant performance from one of City's most important players.
MF Ilkay Gundogan, 6 -- Ferreted and dug in, but found precious little space in a hectic midfield. Short passing was very accurate however, and he did a quietly efficient job in midfield.
MF David Silva, 8 -- Played his usual game to exquisite levels in a frenetic and unforgiving midfield environment. Still seemed to be the only player on the pitch with the time to pick his pass, which he did lethally for the second equaliser.
MF Nolito, 7 -- The most discreet of City's front runners, he did a god job stretching Celtic's defence out on the left in the shambolic opening period. Weighed in with the crucial third equaliser too.
MF Raheem Sterling, 8 -- Terribly unlucky to deflect the second goal after tracking back so far. He was a constant thorn in the side of Celtic going forward. Showed amazing control and presence of mind in the culmination to the build-up to the second goal and was still threatening well into injury time.
FW Sergio Aguero, 6 -- A discreet night's work. Had his share of chances, but without looking a likely match winner for once. Had a plethora of early opportunities as well as a late chance to make it 4-3, but was crowded out.
Substitutes:
DF John Stones, NR -- Replaced Clichy after 72 minutes and thereafter drifted into the left-sided central defensive role, with Kolarov moving to left-back.
MF Fernando, NR -- Came on for the tiring Nolito after 78 minutes and had enough time to get involved in some of the rugged tackling that typified the final stages of the match.