KRISTOFFER AJER spoke to the media today ahead of tomorrow night’s eager awaited re-match with the Romanian Champions Cluj. The sides drew 1-1 in the first leg of the 3rd qualifying round at the start of August before Dan Petrescu’s side shocked Celtic with a costly 4-3 win at Paradise.
Ajer held his head in his hands that night, like the rest of us, a little unsure that it had all really happened. It was such a bizarre evening and one that the Europa League draw has given Celtic the perfect chance to show that it was a freak result by making sure that lightning doesn’t strike twice.
Celtic have been undefeated away from him in Europe this season, undefeated domestically and that defeat to Cluj was the only loss of the campaign to date. Here’s how Ajer reflected on it all earlier this afternoon.
“We knew very well that they were a tough draw and would make it difficult. We got a good result away in Romania but conceded too many goals at home. It’s as simple as that and we have to be better tomorrow.
“We’ve improved lot since then. We didn’t show up in the first half of that game. We were a bit flat and didn’t press the ball. We showed in the second half that we can create chances and score goals. I feel like we’ve settled in tactically-wise in how we defend as a team,” Ajer said at today’s Media Conference, as reported by the official Celtic site.
“We want to do better than the last time at Celtic Park. It’s a massive game and we know Cluj will make it really difficult. They showed against Lazio that they’re a top side and we’ll have to be at our very best to get the points.”
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Final #CELCLU preparations! ???? pic.twitter.com/ZsRl1MoKwe
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 2, 2019
There had been numerous new faces at Celtic then and since the Cluj game, particularly in the defensive areas, and the 21 year old Norwegian reckons that all the players now have had a better chance to get to know each other’s game.
“The more games you play together, the better you become,” he said. “I feel like the whole back four are getting to know each other. We’re talking a lot in training and during the meetings with the staff after games to learn how we can improve.
“It’s been quite easy to adapt to that. The gaffer and the staff have coped really well with the new players and they have coped well integrating into the group. We are a really easy group of players to get involved with. There’s a nice togetherness in the group and that helps a lot.”
Celtic have a point from their trip to Rennes and Ajer knows the significance of winning the home games in this tough Europa League Group where all four sides will fancy their chances of going through to the knockout rounds after Christmas. He’ll want to avoid the kind of silly error that resulted in the penalty being conceded in the 1-1 draw with the French Cup holders.
“To get through this really tough group you have to win your home games. We go into every game aiming to get three points and tomorrow is no exception.”
????️ Kristoffer Ajer previews #CELCLU.
????️ KA: “To get through this really tough group you have to win your home games. We go into every game aiming to get three points and tomorrow is no exception.” #UEL pic.twitter.com/r2FcGzK455
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 2, 2019
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