Pep drops a few clues as some play their way out of contention

PEP Guardiola channelled his inner Jurgen Klopp for City's first pre-season clash of the summer.

- JOE BRAY

After the Kenan Memorial Stadium was evacuated 90 minutes before kickoff for a severe weather warning - despite glorious blue skies overhead - Guardiola was first out onto the pitch in Chapel Hill when the all clear was given.

He stayed out for the warm-ups, later taking a seat pitch side in what is a departure from his normal routine before a game.

The manager usually prefers to let his coaches lead the warm-ups, sometimes sitting in the dugouts for a short while before retreating when his players emerge. Here, he watched everything,even the Celtic preparations, and was animated throughout a testing evening for his young squad.

Guardiola said in the build-up that he feels refreshed and excited for the new season. A new tactic was on show, too.

Or a new twist on an old tactic.

Rico Lewis, who declared his ambition to play in midfield this week, was back at full-back inverting inside to accompany Kalvin Phillips.

On the opposite side, Josh WilsonEsbrand did the same, creating a double pivot of full-backs alongside Phillips, who dropped alongside the two young centre-backs on show.