Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers praying Man City leave their A game at home
Scottish champions can ill afford another Champions League thrashing following 7-0 rout by Barcelona
BRENDAN RODGERS says his Celtic side have no chance if Manchester City bring their A game to Celtic Park on Wednesday night.
Former Liverpool boss Rodgers wants to make it “as difficult as possible” for City in their group C Champions League showdown labelled the 'Battle of Britain.'
Scottish champions Celtic are tremendous underdogs against a City team manager by Pep Guardiola, who twice lifted Europe's most prestigious club team trophy with Barcelona.
Rodgers’ team were thrashed 7-0 by Barcelona in their first group match and another defeat in their opening home fixture would raise serious questions about their chances of making the knockout stages.
The Celtic manager assumes that the visitors, who boast an average pass accuracy of 88 per cent in Europe this season, will run out winners if they are at their best.
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But he is expecting his side to deliver an impressive performance.
"We know it will be a difficult night, but we hope it will be a difficult night for [Man City],” said Rodgers.
“If we bring our A game and they bring their A game, they win, but we want to make it as difficult as possible.”
City have won all of the games they have played under Guardiola so far and are clear favourites even without the injured Kevin de Bruyne.
But Celtic thrashed Kilmarnock 6-1 in the league on Saturday and will be seeking to prove that they can upset the odds.
Rodgers confirmed that Craig Gordon will take over in goal from Dorus de Vries, who is still not 100 per cent after having to go off at half-time against Kilmarnock .
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