‘STAYING IN EUROPE IS A MUST,’ SINCLAIR

SCOTT SINCLAIR insists Celtic’s Champions League encounter with Borussia Monchegladbach in Germany tonight in a must-win game.

The exciting left-sided attacker, bought for £4.5million from Aston Villa in the summer, fully realises the importance of the Hoops adding to their solitary point from their previous three ties in the group.

Sinclair said defiantly: “Do we have to win? One hundred per cent  It is imperative that we get three points to progress.

“We need to take the form and winning mentality from the league into the Champions League. If we can do that, it will help us progress. It’s a massive game and one we need to win.

“The fans – and everyone else involved with Celtic – it’s for them that we want to stay in Europe.

“We’re not just here to make up the numbers, we’re here to progress in the Champions League. Obviously the worst-case scenario if we don’t do that is the Europa.”

History is not on the side of the Scots. Eight times down the years, Celtic have travelled to face German opposition. Just twice have they emerged with a draw.

Despite the disappointment of a 2-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture in Glasgow a fortnight ago, Sinclair feels that depressing statistic can be changed this evening.

He added: “I don’t think we started well in the first game. That progressed throughout the team until we conceded a goal and that was that. If we can have a great start, that can put us on the attacking foot for the whole game.

“It’s going to be a tough game, but, hopefully, we can start quickly and get a performance. Another thing is that they will bring it to us. They are not going to sit back. That will suit us.

“We can then get on the front foot, create the chances and, hopefully, it will be a great night for us.

“We’ve got a lot of attacking threat. The defence and the midfield are also very strong. If we can create and put our chances away,we’ve got a very good chance.”