TOMAS CVANCARA is Celtic’s inside man as the champions attempt to come off the ropes against VfB Stuttgart in their Europa League play-off second leg in Germany this evening.
The Czech Republic frontman is on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach until the end of the season and his parent club have lost both their Bundesliga encounters this season.
Cvancara lasted 72 minutes of the first leg at Parkhead last week before making way for Kelechi Iheanacho as the hosts toppled to an embarrassing 4-1 defeat.
However, the towering forward is remaining defiant and believes it is wrong for anyone to write off the hopes of Martin O’Neill’s team.
ON THE RUN…Tomas Cvancara races away from Hearts defender Craig Halkett in Celtic’s 2-2 draw at Tynecastle last month.
Cvancara, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “It’s still not over. We are still in the European competition and we have to do everything possible on the pitch to keep going.
“We know that it will be a difficult game, they already showed their quality in our stadium.
“We are focused on this game and we have to go for it.
“We have conceded some goals too easily, but I would say that we have a lot of quality in the team.
“For us, we just have to focus on ourselves now and keep going.”
The Hoops will be hoping to come through the confrontation without injury as they face a crucial Premiership test of nerve and character at Ibrox on Sunday.
O’Neill, of course, will have to plan for the match without the services of central defender Auston Trusty who is banned for the game in Govan as well as the upcoming encounters against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and Motherwell at Parkhead following his controversial red card against Hibs.
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O’NEILL AIMS TO MAKE IT ‘INTERESTING’
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