Patrick Roberts reveals Pep Guardiola congratulated him after Manchester City loanee scored against his parent club for Celtic in Champions League

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Patrick Roberts believes Celtic can hold their heads up high after his goal saw them end their Champions League campaign with a deserved draw at the Etihad last night.

The on-loan Manchester City winger scored against his parent club before Kelechi Iheanacho secured a point for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Celtic finished their European involvement this season by propping up Group C but the 19-year-old felt the game-on-game improvement Brendan Rodgers’ side have shown is the overwhelming positive to take from the campaign.

Patrick Roberts celebrates scoring against parent club Manchester City for Celtic on Tuesday

‘It was good, a very positive performance,’ insisted Roberts. ‘I know it’s only a point but I thought we were unlucky not to get more.

‘We gave a good account of ourselves in the group. We were disappointed after Monchengladbach away that we didn’t get the win there late on and tonight we’ve not managed to get a win, either.

‘It’s frustrating but we’ll learn and get better. Next season, Celtic will be much better equipped for the teams we play.

‘It was a tough, tough group. We knew that from the start. We had to play our own way and try and get the best results possible.

‘I think we have done ourselves proud in the group. We’ve finished with a really strong performance which is pleasing.

‘Everyone wrote us off in the group but we’ve shown our character against City at home and Gladbach away and here again.

The City loanee revealed the kind words of Pep Guardiola after the Champions League game

‘We’ve had a good group stage without winning a game but it’s an extremely tough group. It’s the best tournament in football and we’ve done ourselves proud. We’ll be well equipped for next season.’

A £12million signing from Fulham, Roberts expects to return to City next June.

And he feels he left an indelible mark on the club which agreed to him spending 18 months developing in Glasgow.

‘It can mean more to score against them but my aim was just to play well,’ he insisted.

‘I’ve signed for Celtic for the season, so I’m trying to do my best for the team I’m playing for and always give 100 per cent.

‘Every time I get on the pitch, that’s all I want to do. I don’t think about anything else, just my personal performance and the team I’m playing for.

Roberts scored on City soil despite playing in the shirt of their Tuesday night opponents

‘Whenever I get the chance to play, I try to do that and get goals and assists.’

Roberts also felt he should have had a penalty when Gael Clichy pulled him back in the box. Mikael Lustig was then booked for dissent after he took issue with the decision.

‘Yes, I thought it was a penalty and a couple of the lads did as well but that’ s football,’ Roberts added. ‘Sometimes those decisions don’t go for you but you have to keep your head up and go again.’

Roberts was more encouraged by the reception he got from the City players and their manager.

‘They all greeted me and I’m best mates with Kelechi (Iheanacho) and he played well tonight,’ he said.

‘It was nice for both of us to score, we were the youngest in the changing room and we got on. I’m happy for him.

City goalkeeper Willy Caballero watches Roberts' shot find his net after four minutes

‘At the end, Pep said well done and keep it up for the rest of the season, which was nice of him.’

Roberts’ team-mate Leigh Griffiths, meanwhile, believes the improvement from an opening night seven-goal drubbing in the Nou Camp is stark.

From the start of the campaign to the end of the campaign, it’s been like two different teams,’ said the striker, who entered the fray for the last 17 minutes.

‘That’s us drawn with one of the best teams in the world over two games and, on the night, we might even have got the win.

‘The boys are disappointed not to have won the game. The gaffer said he is really proud of the players.

‘They left out Sergio Aguero tonight, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, but look at the players they brought in. Sane is worth £39million, so they are piling millions into the club trying to be one of the best football teams in the world, and we more than matched them tonight.

‘Six or eight months from now, we’ve got to show again why we deserve to be in this competition.

‘We know it’s going to be tough, but with the manager, the backroom staff and the players we’ve got here and the players the manager will want to bring in, he’ll no doubt strengthen the squad and we’ll have a real crack at it next year.’

Griffiths had a couple of chances to turn one point into three after coming on and believes there may have been a degree of ring-rust at play.

‘You never know, I can’t help it if I’m injured or unwell at times,’ he added.

‘I was just delighted to be back on the pitch, it’s a nice feeling and hopefully that’s me back for good.’