Erling Haaland is back in business but Kalvin Phillips is all over the place, as is the defence! the defence is all over the place! Winners and losers as Man City's USA tour begins with thrilling defeat to Celtic

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Richard Martin

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In a thrilling friendly match, the Norwegian assassin showcased his prowess by scoring an impressive header. However, the midfielder’s comeback in a blue jersey was far from ideal, resulting in a disappointing performance.

In a highly entertaining match in Chapel Hill, Manchester City’s USA tour began on a challenging note with a 4-3 defeat to Celtic, despite Erling Haaland’s return to scoring form.

The highly desired forward was the center of attention as spectators eagerly awaited his performance. He delighted fans by delivering a powerful header to level the score in the second half. However, this came after Pep Guardiola’s team had a dreadful beginning against an unstoppable Celtic side.

Brendan Rodgers’ team initiated their pre-season training earlier this month and appeared significantly more prepared than the reigning Premier League champions. They swiftly surged ahead with a 3-1 lead by halftime, courtesy of two goals from German forward Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn and Japan’s Kyogo Furuhashi.

Oscar Bobb played a crucial role for City, emerging as the standout player under Guardiola’s guidance. His exceptional performance helped the team secure a 3-3 draw, with goals from Maximo Perrone and Haaland. However, Celtic managed to regain the lead for the third time when Luis Palma defeated Ederson, leaving City without a response.

Guardiola’s greatest worry lies in the vulnerable defense, as Kalvin Phillips’ return in a City jersey was anything but pleasant. The chances of rekindling his career at the Etihad Stadium seem extremely slim, given his disappointing performance in midfield.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Kenan Stadium…

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