Moritz Jenz reckons Celtic must be brave in order to fight back in Group F after falling to the bottom of Group F on Wednesday after after suffering a 3-1 defeat against RB Leipzig in the first game in the double-header against the Bundeliga outfit.
Celtic have played well in stages in all three matche in their Champions League campaign but so far have just one point to show for their endeavours.. However, their lack of ruthlessness has caused frustration among the players and supporters alike. However, as reported by the DailyRecord, Jenz believes the Bhoys can fight back and secure their first wins in Group F when RB Leipzig and Shakhtar travel to Paradise in the next two matches. Jenz is clear when he statess there is nothing for Celtic to fear.
“We must concentrate first on St Johnstone because that is our next game and that means it is the most important. But in terms of the Champions League, then yes. We want to play brave football and be exciting. Definitely. It’s the way we want to play.
“Sometimes things are going to happen in these moments like they did against Leipzig.”
Timo Werner and Moritz Jenz during the UEFA Champions League Group match RB Leipzig v Celtic FC in Leipzig, on October 5, 2022. (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images)
“But you have to have courage to play these passes in these situations. Unfortunately, there was one like that, but we are going to play like in the next game, then the next game and every game like that until the end of the season. That’s how we play.”
“You saw in the first half in Leipzig it was very end to end. They had their chances and we had ours. If we maybe had taken one or two of them, then we would maybe have got the leg up in the game and it would have turned out differently. But we have a good chance in the game at home and we have to be brave.”
Jenz was born and brought up just over an hour’s train ride from the Red Bull Arena in Berlin. While at school, he and his family moved to England. So the opportunity to arrive back in his homeland, on the big stage was an amazing experience for Jenz.
“For me, it was a nice moment because I have been abroad for a long time. When I was 13, I left the country and it’s been a long time since I was back. It was unfortunate it was not the result in the end that I wanted for myself or that we wanted as a team, but it was a nice touch.”
Jenz was able to start due to the stacking injuries in the Celtic squad, as both Starfelt and Carter-Vickers were absent from the squad in Germany. Furthermore, the injury of Callum McGregor adds to Ange Postecoglou’s headache caused by injuries. However, Jenz believes that other players will have to step up and fill the boots of the absent Bhoys.
“Yes, of course. When you have big players missing who are big personalities in the squad, it is important to step up. This is now a good moment for us to step up as individual players and push the team forward and being strong in our performances as well as being positive.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers is training with the squad today and Ange Postecoglou said at his Media Conference, which happened before training, that he’d assess the defender before making a decision on whether he’ll play tomorrow against St Johnstone.
With Tuesday night at the back of his mind the manager might opt to keep CCV for the RB Leipzig match.
Here’s Ange Media Conference…