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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola coy on future of Patrick Roberts

Patrick Roberts celebrates his goal during against parent club Manchester City in the Champions League
Image: Pep Guardiola refused to be draw on the future of Celtic winger Patrick Roberts, who is on loan from Man City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn on the future of Patrick Roberts after he scored against his parent club for Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday.

It was a mostly entertaining game at the Etihad Stadium, with both goals scored in the opening 10 minutes as the winger gave the visitors the lead four minutes in before Kelechi Iheanacho equalised for the hosts minutes later. 

Roberts is currently in the middle of an 18-month loan deal with the Scottish Premiership champions and is set to return to City in the summer, but Guardiola remained tight-lipped on his future. 

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Image: Guardiola was happy with the performance from his young side against Celtic

"We are going to talk about it at the end of the season," he told a post-match press conference. "We know his quality but the decision is not about one game. It is for one season for the perspective.

"He has good quality with the winger, one against one. He worked defensively. He has, of course, potential. I am so happy with his performance, of course."

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was more forthcoming on the display of his current charge, and believes Guardiola would be impressed by his display.

"It couldn't have been easy for him but the kid showed his quality," the former Liverpool boss said. "He showed he's in the right place at this stage of his career. It's no good him sitting on the bench.

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Celtic's English midfielder Patrick Roberts (C) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League group C football match between Manchester Cit
Image: Roberts netted against his parent club in the Champions League on Tuesday evening

"It's great that City allow him to play in a game like this. You've seen a top, young English talent here - a brilliant goal, pressed the game well and showed all his qualities. I'm very proud of him in terms of his concentration and quality in the game.

"I'm sure he'll come back here in the summer and Pep and his staff will have a real good look at him. They will be really encouraged with what they've seen here."

Guardiola had made nine changes to his side from Saturday's loss to Chelsea after City qualified for the last 16 draw on Monday with a game in hand, with youngsters Oluwatosin Adarabioyo and Pablo Maffeo included in the starting line-up.

Kelechi Iheanacho equalises for Manchester City against Celtic
Image: Kelechi Iheanacho equalised for Man City at the Etihad on Tuesday

"I'm so happy. We played really well against a good team. The experienced players like Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, Fernando and Ilkay Gundogan help a lot with the young players and it was a good experience for them," he added.

"They deserved to play because they train well and their behaviour is always perfect so I'm so happy to give them the chance to play in the Champions League.

"The game was good for the spectators, both teams tried to attack and it was fun. It was a pleasure to play against Celtic."

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