I am always alert to the noises coming out of Celtic in the week before we go to Rugby Park, the same was the case when we were at Livingston. They are horrible pitches. Players don’t like them, bookies don’t like them and managers avoid playing injury-prone players on the surfaces.
However, before a game, there are no excuses. We know the surface and we plan accordingly. There is a golden rule when facing an adverse environment: Give someone a reason to fail and they will take it.
I could not believe my ears at the weekend, when Newco manager, Philippe Clement spoke to Sky after their win at Ross County. When asked about the forthcoming games against Tottenham and Celtic he said, “Maybe we need to say financially out of our league, the two games”.
There’s your excuse. Out. Of. Our. League. Four words you do not want to hear from your manager when you are about to face a team you pretend is a peer. Celtic are out of Newco’s league, but not financially. Accounts for the year to June show Newco’s Operating Expenses at £109.785m, whereas Celtic’s only £105.4m.
Celtic operate in a different league when it comes to recruitment, coaching, commercial acumen, sports science, medical care and just about every metric you can think of. Apart from financial.
As the words left his mouth, Clement will have known he made the mistake of letting the world know he has prepared his excuses for failure. There is no financial disparity, the gap is all down to talent.
With two games remaining only Paris St Germain and Stuttgart, who sit outside the top 24, have a realistic chance of making the knockout stage. Both are on 7 points and they meet in Stuttgart on matchday 8.
Before then, PSG are home to Manchester City on 22 January, when there is a reasonable chance City will be out of their slumber, while Stuttgart can be expected to win at Slovan Bratislava.
Dinamo Zagreb (8 points, away to Arsenal, home to Milan) look certain to drop out. Had they beaten Celtic on Tuesday, getting to 10 points would flip that prediction. While our point on Tueday still left us work to do, it eliminated one of our key rivals.
PSV Eindhoven (8 points, away to Red Star, home to Liverpool) also have work to do. A draw in Belgrade may not be enough for them.
Of the clubs already on 10 points, Brugge are home to Juventus and away to Manchester City, and already have a -2 goal difference. While Feyenoord are home to Bayern, away to Lille and on -1 goal difference. Unlike others on the same points (or City on 8), these two will be looking over their shoulders.
A point should be enough at home to Young Boys, who did well for the majority of the game before caving in at Stuttgart last night. It’s set for a memorable Celtic Park winter’s night.
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From BBC Scotland gossip page
“Rangers manager Philippe Clement reveals Rangers have been “giving cooking lessons” to his players as they seek to “get all the details right”. (National)
That has to be a wind up surely?
BORGO67 – I have the memory of goldfish. Someone corrected me on that a couple of days ago and I had already forgotten. :(
If they approach the game like they did the Scottish cup final it could be a close one again.
If they go for it we will pick them off.
TINYTIM is bricking it already and that is usually a good sign.
Only teasing TT.
DENIABHOY
Likewise. I was picking him in our team for the last round.
Huns are not a free scoring side, should we score first on Sunday then it’s a long road back for them given our defensive record and their lack of creativity.
Parkheadcumsalford on 12th December 2024 11:17 pm
Let’s just hope OUR team hammer the deid team on Sunday.
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Well I don’t think that’s very likely!
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Johnny Kenny said last night after the Conference League match that he’s coming back to Celtic in January. I hope I’m wrong about him and he does make a good contribution as another backup striker
Am I worried about the hun on Sunday? Naw.
DeniaBhoy on 13th December 2024 8:55 am
Big Jimmy – Soutar’s hamstring went, they’d be crazy to risk him. Probably out for a few weeks. Not worried either way, neither he or Balogun can cope with Kyogo’s quick thinking.
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I did NOT see what injury SOUTTAR picked up last night but you are correct as IF its his Hamstring then he will miss a few games for sure ?
HH.
It’s probably stating the obvious, but the direction of travel for us and them has switched over the past month.
We’ve gone from a high water mark versus Leipzig to a somewhat less convincing outfit, mostly getting by unharmed despite gifting chances to opponents with alarming frequency.
They’ve gone from crashing the train to delivering results. A win and a draw away in Europe coupled with last night’s draw with Spurs will have shown their players that they can perform in big matches. They’ll be looking forward to the Final now.
As with the Aberdeen game in the semi final, Sunday is one for Celtic to show who’s the Daddy. Anything less and we allow fortune and misfortune to influence the result.
Werner is a player who doesn’t give a damn, and it shows ,multimillionaire that he is. Keep taking the money..
My only concern for Sunday is the officials, we know what to expect don’t we, MUST MUST keep our discipline above all else. We are miles bettr that them, do not forget that.
4 – 0 the good guys
KINGLuBO
AJ not training today…
marspapa on 12th December 2024 9:55 pm
Fantastic performance from Rangers against PL opponents .
Surprised me with their pace and neat passing.
Looks like we’ll have competition on Sunday
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Indeed.
The huns looked a good team and were unlucky not to win.
How much are the Spurs team worth ? Demonstrates that riches are not everything.
Luckily we have a top notch manager who will adjust his team accordingly.
HH. IBWT.
Bada Bing – precautionary I hope. I also hope Tony is practicing his crossing today.
new article posted.