Hoops defender Mikael Lustig has insisted that referee Slavko Vincic was wrong to book him in the Etihad last night as he appealed for a penalty.

Goalscorer Patrick Roberts was pulled back by Gael Clichy as he made his way into the box, with TV pictures showing the fullback with two arms around the winger.

Lustig was directly behind the incident and was irked that City escaped sanction for the indiscretion. “It was a clear penalty,” he said. “It was a bad moment because not only did we not get the penalty but I got a yellow card too so that wasn’t the best.

Read more: Manchester City 1 Celtic 1 ; Hoops bow out with pride intact

“The additional assistant is just two yards away. He has one job and it is a clear foul. I think he knew it too.

“It would have been the perfect opportunity for us to go in to the break with a lead but it wasn’t to be and that was a bit frustrating.”

That aside, Lustig was confident that Celtic have given a solid account of themselves in this season’s Champions League.

The Hoops started inauspiciously with the 7-0 defeat in the Nou Camp against Barcelona but recovered their composure as the tournament went on.

Read more: Manchester City 1 Celtic 1 ; Hoops bow out with pride intact

And after last night’s display against Pep Guardiola’s side, Lustig is confident that this is a Celtic side who are moving in the right direction.

“I think we feel as though we have shown improvements as the campaign has gone on. The only one we would be annoyed abut is the home game against Borussia Monchengladbach,” said the Swedish internationalist. “That is the one game where we should have taken something. We gave them two goals and we just didn’t play the way we can, especially at home. That is the one regret.

“We were disappointed too in Barcelona but we managed to pick ourselves up from that.

“Otherwise it has been a good learning experience and hopefully that will help u and we look to go forward as a team.”

Lustig also believed that Celtic did enough both in Glasgow and last night to take all three points from Manchester City.

Read more: Manchester City 1 Celtic 1 ; Hoops bow out with pride intact

“We came out and created three chances right after the break last night, three big chances, and I think we did enough to win this game,” he reflected. “I do think we have shown a lot of character but more than that; we have also shown that we can compete with the best.

“We have learned a lot and we have come a long distance in a short space of time.

“It has definitely given us a hunger to go and do it again next season. It is such a difficult journey to get into the Champions League but when you are here and playing against the very best teams, there is nothing like it.”