Thursday 15 February 2018 12:42, UK
Celtic winger Scott Sinclair insists he does not have a point to prove to his former manager Roberto Mancini.
The Hoops travel to face Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday night in their Europa League last 16 first-leg tie, with Sinclair poised to come up against his former boss, who is currently in charge of the Russian side.
Sinclair made only two starts under Mancini during his time at Manchester City but the 28-year-old insists he has grown as a player since his departure from the Etihad.
"I don't have a point to prove to him, it's for myself," said Sinclair. "You have targets and levels you want to play at and for me it's about giving it 100 per cent.
"When I went to City I only played a few games under him."
Zenit boss Mancini signed Sinclair from Swansea for £8m in August 2012 but the former Bristol Rovers youngster made just 13 appearances during his three-year spell at the club.
"There were so many players there I didn't get as much game time as I'd have liked to, but I'm a much different player now.
"He [Mancini] is a very tactical manager, he'll be looking to do all he can to try and win the game.
"Zenit are a great side, it's going to be a tough and exciting game and we need to make sure we perform."
Zenit head into the Europa League tie having not played competitively since a 0-0 draw away at FK Akhmat on December 11.
The Russian Premier League takes a three-month winter break from mid-December to mid-March and Sinclair believes Celtic could use this to their advantage when they travel to the Krestovsky Stadium.
He said: "It takes time to get going again when you have a summer break.
"For them I'm sure they've had a nice break but we need to worry about what we're doing."
"It makes a massive difference to have European football after Christmas especially for the fans. It's what they want to see."
