von McCeltic » Mo 22. Okt 2012, 19:48
Manager: I want a team of Hoops heroes against Barca
NEIL Lennon knows what it’s like to play for Celtic against Barcelona in the Camp Nou. He also knows what’s like to enjoy a successful result. Indeed, the Celtic manager has yet to taste defeat in the Catalan capital.
He was part of the Hoops side which drew 0-0 in 2004 to knock Barca out of the UEFA Cup, and a year later, he and his team-mates drew 1-1 in the UEFA Champions League, with John Hartson scoring for Celtic.
Now, he is set for his first clash with the Catalan giants as Celtic manager, and it’s one he’s looking forward to.
“Barcelona have developed to become an even greater team since I played them in 2005,” he said at the pre-match press conference. “They went on to win the Champions League that season and since then, they’ve played a different level of football to anyone else, consistently, and at the highest level.
“So even though we have good memories of playing in the Nou Camp, it’s a totally different scene. This is a completely different team to the one I played in. We’ll try to pass on little tips of what to look out for and how they’re going to experience it, but it’s all about how the players adapt, and adapt quickly to the pace of the game, and how Barcelona move the ball.
“But it’s a great challenge for the players and it’s one that they should embrace. They will have to show character and mental strength. Allied to that, the players will have to play to the peak of their abilities to overcome what’s probably the best team in the world at the minute.
“We’re in confident form. We got a great result in the last Champions League game against Spartak so we have nothing to lose. It’s very exciting times, not only for the players but the club and the supporters as well.
“But we’re not here for a holiday. We’re not here for the tourist attractions. We’re here to play a game of football. And we’re going to be in for a tough 90 minutes, but we want Barcelona to have a tough 90 minutes as well.”
The manager is hoping that he will be able to call upon the services of Scott Brown, James Forrest, Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras for this vital game, while he also confirmed that Lassad didn’t travel with the squad, having picked up a groin injury during the 5-0 victory over St Mirren on Saturday.
“There’s always pressure going into any game,” the manager said, “but what we have given ourselves is a nice platform. Maybe we didn’t visualise getting the result in Moscow, but we’ve grown as a team over the past year, particularly in European competition, and this is the ultimate test – away from home against Barcelona.
“I’m hoping for 11 or 14 heroes tomorrow night, not just one. Along the way already, players have made their name in this competition for us and I’m hoping a few more will do that on Tuesday.
“We have to be very compact, we have to be concentrated, and play with a great intensity, but what we do have is plenty of pace in the team. We’ve got ability and we’ve come off the back of a good performance at the weekend. So, it’s a good place the team are in at the minute.”
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