Manchester City 1 Steaua Bucharest 0 (agg 6-0): Fabian Delph completes the job as Pep Guardiola’s men sail through to the Champions League group stages
APP Despite being relatively untroubled, Joe Hart kept a clean sheet in what could be his final game at the Etihad
A Fabian Delph header helped ensure Manchester City's qualification into the Champions League group phrase after a dull 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest at the Etihad.
The midfielder scored his first goal of the season as he climbed highest to head home Jesus Navas' cross 10 minutes after half time as City failed to get out of second gear.
But most of the attention before the fixture was aimed at Joe Hart who may have played his final game for the club.
The England stopper was barely tested throughout as he kept a clean sheet in a game of little chances.
See who else made the group stages with the Champions League round-up
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Big cheer for Joe Hart when he first touched the ball. And it was with his feet, which has been what Pep Guardiola wants improving.
- "Don't sell Joe Hart "was the chant from fans as they made their feelings clear to Guardiola.
- City fans still unhappy with UEFA after feeling targeted by their FFP sanctions. Boos during the Champions League anthem.
- Pep went for 4-1-4-1 with Fernando holding as an anchor and Kelechi Iheanacho up front.
- Numbers were up at the Etihad thanks to reduced prices for kids to get in.
- Yaya Toure was starting his first game for Guardiola and looked in decent shape, much slimmer than last season.
- Pablo Maffeo staked a claim at right-back. Spaniard looks quick and at 19 has a bright future ahead of him.
- Fabian Delph showed that he wasn't all about shielding hours defence. Got forward in the second half and nodded in to break deadlock.
- Hart almost broke out into a smile when City fans gave him a massive ovation in the second half.
- Yaya Toure started his first game of the season, showing where is stands in Guardiola’s pecking order.
SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Manchester City
Hart 6, Maffeo 7, Stones 6 (Adarabioyo 60, 6), Kolarov 8, Clichy 7, Toure 6, Fernando 7, Delph 8, Navas 7, Iheanacho 6 (Fernandinho 76, 6), Nolito 7 (Angelino 60, 6)
Subs not used: Aguero, Gunn, Silva, Sterling
Goals: Delph 56
STAR MAN: Fabian Delph, 8
WHAT THEY SAID
Manchester City keeper Joe Hart: "That was a really special night for me.
"I've had a lot of good nights in football. We all know there is a situation going on.
"I feel like inside, outside of all the circus, we are handling it well with a good team and some good management staff and I enjoyed tonight.
"I'm really happy Fabian scored, he's dreamed of scoring a header and he has won us the game and it puts us in the Champions League. It was a special night for us and a really nice night for me."