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Manchester City expecting "very tough" Champions League group

Man City director of football Txiki Begiristain expects a "very tough" Champions League group stage, having been drawn alongside Barcelona, Celtic and Monchengladbach.

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain has admitted that his side have been drawn in a "very tough" Champions League group.

The Citizens were drawn alongside two former winners of the competition in Group C, with the standout tie seeing manager Pep Guardiola return to Barcelona, where he spent a trophy-laden four-year spell at the beginning of his managerial career.

Celtic and Borussia Monchengladbach join City and Barca in the group, but despite expecting things to be difficult, Begiristain insists that the club are pleased with the draw.

"It is not a nightmare because we are in a wonderful competition. We are really happy but it will be very tough," he told BT Sport.

"We were in the semi-final last season and we want to be there again. It is an amazing competition, an amazing group."

City beat Steaua Bucuresti 6-0 on aggregate to confirm their place in the Champions League group stages for a sixth consecutive year.

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Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola looks on prior to kick-off in the Champions League quarter final match against Manchester United on April 9, 2014
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5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
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8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
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11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
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16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
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19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


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