Manchester City 3-4 Celtic Review

Preseason Tour

Before we get started it’s worth mentioning that in preseason you have players not sharp on their feet as well as with their passing. Players that are not used to one another and a defensive unit that’s certainly not compact. The results will give you zero takeaways. The performances will give you some insights and so will the number of minutes handed out. But you have to be cautious about reading too much into anything.

Technical ability and intelligence though, you cannot hide that or gain it through a couple weeks of preseason training.

Here is how Manchester City started the match against Celtic. A number of academy players were involved, as expected with the international competitions this summer. Opportunities for some to move up the pecking order and players returning from loans to impress.

Worth noting that this is the fourth friendly Celtic have played this summer so far and it was pretty clear they were sharper than City in the first half.

Dealing with the runners from out wide against Wilson-Esbrand or centrally against Mbete punished City in the first half. At times quite easy for them to punch the ball between the lines in midfield.

James McAtee had a number of bright moments on the half turn in the pockets. An ability highlighted by Guardiola before the match. Setting up chances for Haaland and involved in a swift counter-attack. Tough decision awaits him this summer on whether there is a realistic pathway into the first team.

Grealish and Haaland both looked good once they eventually got on the ball. There was a number of times Grealish was either driving City into the box or up the pitch in the first half.

Kasper Schmeichel made the kind of saves you’d expect from him to deny Haaland a couple of goals in the first half.

Tough evening for Kalvin Phillips who was either drawn too high by Celtic players which opened up space to expose or he was unable to take the ball under pressure and play it out.

Opening goal for Manchester City started with Jack Grealish firing this pass into O’Reilly and it eventually found it’s way into the path of Bobb to strike.

Ortega struggled playing out against the press of Celtic but it’s hard to read too much into that given the set of players in front of him to buildup with. City also struggled in their buildup shape, using both full-backs to invert inside but often you would see them in the same line as the central defenders which makes the passing angles difficult to find.

A number of changes at half-time as expected with preseason. Ederson in for Ortega. Doyle in for Mbete. Susoho came into midfield for Phillips alongside Perrone for McAtee. Joel Ndala replaced O’Reilly and moved out to the left wing. Jack Grealish moved inside to the eight role.

With those changes City started quick in the second half, a brilliant dribble and tidy footwork by Oscar Bobb down the right side to spin the opposition full-back inside out. Using his change of pace. Passes the ball inside the two Celtic defenders for Maximo Perrone who finishes into the bottom corner.

Rico Lewis grew more and more into the game in the second half, taking control of the midfield towards the end of the first half and into the second. Along with Bobb, they both should stay with the team this season and are ready to play bigger roles.

Callum Doyle impressed at the back with his passing ability, has the courage and ability to play the kind of passes we would see from Laporte.

Ndala caused Celtic a lot of problems down the right side and worked well with Grealish on the inside of him. I’d be surprised if there isn’t a number of loan opportunities for him this summer.

Oscar Bobb was involved again for the third City goal, this time from the left side. Ndala passes the ball back to him from inside the box, with the time to float this cross to the back post for Erling Haaland. A sight every City fan has missed this summer.

The final set of changes game shortly after the 60 minute mark with Katongo replacing Simpson-Pusey. Jacob Wright came on for Wilson-Esbrand, moving into a six position. Rico Lewis came across to play at left-back and Susoho shifted to right-back.

Up top Micah Hamilton came on for Jack Grealish to play more centrally. Oscar Bobb joined him in the middle as Ben Knight, who came on for Haaland, played at right wing.

Susoho displayed his defensive qualities in his recovery tackles and interceptions. Jacob Wright is highly regarded internally at City and this match was a good step for him to realize the level. He has the quality and movement for the role but is still figuring out his timing on the ball. Look forward to seeing how those two get on in another game.

Next up for Manchester City on their preseason tour is to head over to New York to play against AC Milan in the Yankee Stadium, 27th July. Both Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are expected to join up with the squad from there and could be in contention to play.

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