Zenit players have been chatty with the Russian media since returning to St Petersburg this week. To a man, they attributed their defeat at Celtic Park to a fitness deficit. But, do not fear, they will still go through as they are the better team.
Exactly what logic they use to convince themselves that a few days break in Rome will sufficiently improve their fitness to allow their general superior-ness to prevail is unclear. Footballers with a “We are better, so we will go through” attitude are short of an effective plan.
When in Rome, Zenit players did what others do – posted photos of them visiting the Colosseum on social media. There were no hard fitness sessions; they do not even seem to have sought intervention from a higher authority at St Peter’s. To put it mildly, if this was Celtic players in the days before and after huge European games, I would incandescent.
This team believe they only have to turn up tonight to progress in the competition. They may well have spent £150m on their squad, but they are no Bayern Munich. We taught them a lesson at Celtic Park that they appear not to have learned from.
You can do it again, Celtic.
98 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
Nervous as hell. If we get our game going anything like as well as we did in the first leg we’ll do this.
Am hoping tonight’s the night we see the Moussa we know and love.
Only a fool would predict etc, so I’m going for 1-1.
Mon the Bhoys!
⚽️ Crazee
⚽️ Mad
The ⚽️ It has taken away the little bit of sense I had.
:-)
Huv ah broke the blog again?
BBC Site for Scottish Football:
1) Souttar deserves a cap, says Levein;
2) Hibs going for second, says Lennie;
3) SFA in talks re Hampden;
4) Celtic v Zenit.
Scotland`s Champions and outstanding team, rank just above the QotS reserve `keeper having been hit by a cow.
Why do they hate us so much? Is it because we are not` Scottish` enough?
JJ
Hunderbirds
I think it is fairly quiet because most are in agreement , more or less ( no, not HIM ), re team selection.
JJ
Team sheet latest…………………………..Wee Jamesie
Starting line up …
De Vries ; Lustig, Simunovic, Ajer, Tierney ; Brown, Kouassi , Ntcham, McGregor ; Forrest , Dembele
Subs: Bain, Miller, Hendry, Rogic, Musonda, Edouard, Sinclair
Same team – hopefully same performance
Booked my spot behind the settee
I’m happy with that team , plenty legs and power just what we need, we can do this if we pull together, play as a team, dont let any heads go down and attack with pace when we can, Good Luck Celtic.
Awe_Naw_No_RodStewart_Being_A_Dick_Anaw_Noo
Same Team CSC
Big games, big crowds that’s what players coming to Celtic can expect. Huge crowd last week, sellout to-night and another sellout on Sunday. Celtic are the underdogs to-night and that’s how we like it.
irish side Dundalk played Zenit two years ago and were enjoying a great run in Europe scoring both home and away and were within an away goal of going through until the Russians got the insurance score with ten minutes left for play. Zenit were well into their season and fully fit while Dundalk had just finished theirs.
Celtic have a very good record against Russian teams and while I’m not taking anything away from that excellent Dundalk team, Celtic undoubtedly have more quality. I expect Celtic to score to-night and hopefully make it on the away goals. Match fitness will be a plus.
LIVE UPDATES UP
In the house in time for the fitba’ love that!
Mon The Celtic..
I’m guessing Rogic isn’t fit enough to start. Would have liked either him or Armstrong for their breaking runs. Can’t afford Moussa getting isolated. Hopefully Jamesie can do that.
Can’t give the ball away cheaply or switch off at the back.
Cautiously optimistic!
Zenit make 2 changes with Ivanovic for Smolnikov and Kranevitter for Erkohin
We were better than them last week and I don’t see them being much fitter this week. It will be tight but if we keep composed in the first 30 minutes and get a foothold in the game they will become more nervous.
Get a first half goal and they need 3 to beat us. It’s a tough ask but their talk seems to suggest they think it’s a foregone conclusion. I don’t. I don’t bet but if I did, I’d look at 2-2 and us to go through!
I am also happy with a 1 goal defeat as long as we score.
C’mon Celtic, JFDI please!
KTF
Does 1-0 Zenit mean extra time and , if necessary, penalties?
JJ
VFR
I hope that `F` stands for `Flippin` ` a la BMCUW?
JJ
Wiliam Hill has Celtic as 4/7 favourites to qualify. Hmm..
JJ
HOT SMOKED on 22ND FEBRUARY 2018 5:12 PM
Does 1-0 Zenit mean extra time and , if necessary, penalties?
__________________________________
It does; and of course it means flipping’.
KTF
LIVE UPDATES IS UP
Fear !!