Former Celtic star Patrick Roberts has recalled the two Champions League appearances whereby he faced up against his parent side, Manchester City. The 26-year-old spent two-and-a-half years at Celtic and was a big part of the Invincible Treble team.
Speaking to The Celtic View Podcast, Roberts spoke about facing his former club and even scoring against Pep Guardiola’s team.
“It was weird, many players don’t experience that (on playing against Manchester City).
“When the draw came out we got three big clubs but we took to it quite well and sometimes when you play certain teams like Barcelona you can’t stop them no matter how hard you try.
“To score at the Etihad was strange but I enjoyed it and it was a nice rule to let me play.
“I remember the home game that finished 3-3 because I went in to see some of the City players after the game and they couldn’t believe the atmosphere – it was phenomenal.
“We scored from a set-piece and that shocked them a little. It’s one of those nights you look back on and think wow. We didn’t get over the line but the experience was amazing and there is no better club to do it with.”
Celtic drew the opening Champions League game between the sides in a topsy-turvy night in Glasgow’s East End.
Roberts scored a stunning goal in the return fixture in the December of that year but City still secured a draw.
Roberts scored 18 goals in 79 appearances in Scotland and was very impressive under Brendan Rodgers in the Invincible season. Roberts had struggled to settle anywhere since leaving Celtic with loan spells at Norwich, Girona and Middlesborough all coming and going before a permanent move to Sunderland came about.
