Why Celtic success is good news for Manchester City’s future

Manchester City may already be playing catch-up to Chelsea in the Premier League title race but on the basis of Celtic’s 5-0 win away at Ross County the Sky Blues could well bounce back next year should they come up short this season.

Available at 12/5 to retain the title they won last year, with Jose Mourinho’s charges on at 4/9, City will have taken heart from seeing two of their brightest young talents star for the Bhoys over the weekend.

Celtic are next in action this Thursday against Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League and will be confident of victory at Parkhead after a comprehensive triumph over Ross County that saw both Jason Denayer and John Guidetti get on the scoresheet.

Recruited from Belgium, where he spent time on the books at Anderlecht as a boy, Denayer has come into his own since moving to Celtic on a season-long loan from City.

In six games so far this term, the 19-year-old has scored three goals and looks to have already been earmarked as a potential replacement for Vincent Kompany in the years to come at both club level and on the international stage.

Capped 11 times by Belgium at youth level, Denayer earned his first call-up to the full national side earlier this month and should he continue to impress for Celtic then more regular football could come in turn next season with City.

Guidetti represents a different though no less encouraging story for those keen for the Sky Blues to build a team for the future rather than buying one for the present.

Still only 22-years-old, the Swedish striker has been on the books at the club since 2008 and looks to be on the cusp of big things after starring for Feyenoord while on a season-long loan from 2011 to 2012.

Guidetti managed a sensational 20 goals in 23 Eredivisie games that season but just when it seemed he would be back at the Etihad and fighting for a first-team place, a series of injuries saw him out of action for almost an entire season.

Loaned out to Stoke in January of last year, the Swede’s short spell with the Potters ultimately did more harm than good after manager Mark Hughes’ decision to use the youngster sparingly prompted Guidetti to take to social media and launch a scathing attack on the ex-City boss.

A move to Celtic and the chance to play regularly this term provided the perfect solution and after a difficult couple of years in the game, Bhoys fans are starting to see some of the potential that made Guidetti a much-talked about figure among Sky Blues’ fans with the youngster scoring four goals in his first six games for the club.

Celtic can be backed at 7/10 to win in the Europa League this Thursday – what price on a City title success with Denayer and Guidetti next season though?

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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