No nonsense excuses, Celtic

I’m having none of this frozen Arctic Circle nonsense, Bodo is due to be 1 degree colder than Lanarkshire by kick-off this evening.  The plastic pitch is a challenge, but we need proper game time on plastic with that visit to Livingston looming a week on Sunday – so let’s think positively about this opportunity.

This game is winnable, the tie is winnable.  Bodo/Glimt remain preseason, they will end the game as tired as they looked last week and would find extra-time an impossible endurance.  Celtic can and must play far better than they did in the first leg.  They lost, because they were poor and made the wrong selection decisions.  This is not a time for flamboyant midfield experimentation, start with our strongest 11, pass the ball with speed and we should find pockets of Arctic space denied to us last week.

If the score is 0-0 at 60 minutes the tie will still be there for us.  These are the challenges players get into the game to face.  It is a great opportunity for so many in this new Celtic side.  Bring it on.