Sturm Graz are uncertain about the availability of their Danish goalkeeper, Oliver Christensen, for this Thursday’s Europa League clash with Celtic after he was forced off during their weekend victory…
Manager Jurgen Saumel cautioned his team that they must step up their performance when they face the Hoops. Celtic host the Austrian champions following their abysmal 2-0 loss to Dundee, which marked the club’s first defeat at Dens Park in 37 years.
Sturm Graz narrowly held onto their three-point lead in the Austrian Bundesliga, edging out BW Linz 4–3 after a stoppage-time winner from Georgian international Otar Kiteishvili.
However, goalkeeper Christensen – currently on loan from Fiorentina – is an injury concern after being taken off in the second half and replaced by no.2 keeper Matteo Bignetti.
Speaking via The Herald, Sturm Graz boss Samuel said: “Oliver has a muscular problem and that’s why it wasn’t possible for him to continue playing. Of course I hope he’ll be fit again by Thursday, because Oli is a really good goalkeeper who helped us with his saves in a few situations out there. But if he is not, then Matteo Bignetti did a really good job again. He was calm and composed.
“We know we have to improve as a team for Thursday. A tough challenge awaits us against Celtic. We lost concentration when we were 3-1 up and allowed them back into the game. When we play Celtic, we cannot afford to take our foot off the gas like that. I’m an attack-minded coach, but we also need to do the basics right and defend better.”
German forward Maurice Malone has called on his teammates to display the same fighting spirit they showed in their 2-1 victory earlier this month over theRangers when they face Brendan Rodgers’ side at Celtic Park in two days’ time.
He said: “It was a good three points and will give us confidence for Glasgow. We need to show the same energy and will to win as we did when we played theRangers in the Europa League.”
With three tough games coming up in the Europa League, this is a must-win game for Celtic if they are to have a chance of reaching the top 24.
You’d imagine a defeat would be curtains for Celtic given that Feyenoord, Roma and Bologna are still all to come.
Conor Spence
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More like a tough challenge awaits Celtic. Even at home this team is struggling as we’ve seen this season.Celtic are not in a good place.