CELTIC trained at Celtic Park today before boarding their chartered flight to Romania for tomorrow’s Champions League 3rd Round Qualifier, first leg.
✈️ Next stop, Romania.
Reminder, Celts, Season Ticket deadline for the return leg at Paradise is at 5pm tomorrow ???????? #CLUCEL #UCL
➡️ https://t.co/8n4W8zJeEy pic.twitter.com/XpueInLa3S
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 6, 2019
The Celtic manager, talking to the official Celtic site, believing the the Romanian Champions will prove to be his side’s toughest challenge of the season so far.
“I would imagine this will be our biggest test so far this season,” Neil Lennon said.
“Cluj are the Romanian champions, they negotiated a tough tie in the last round, they’re strong and they’re compact.
“They cross the ball early, get the ball forward quickly, and they’re well-organised in their defensive structure.
???? #UCL prep at Paradise!
Focus on #CLUCEL ???? pic.twitter.com/76ARc1GLZY
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 6, 2019
“We’re away from home in the first leg, so we’ll have to apply ourselves and we’ll have to reset things, in terms of our own mentality, going into this game.
“But we know what our incentives are and what our motivation is.”
The advance group of Celtic supporters have already arrived for tomorrow’s game and as is usually the case Paul the Tim is there, here he is pictured at Cluj’s stadium.
Cluj stadium pic.twitter.com/bXxv5mGLkg
— paul the tim (@paulthetim) August 6, 2019
Meanwhile we thought we’d dip into the Celtic fans forum Celtic Noise to see what the pre-match thoughts among the supporters are and what the confidence levels are.
“Our away record in Europe is usually poor and although this could be the toughest tie so far, I still think this more attacking, high intensity side has enough to bring back a lead to Paradise. I think Lenny’s team selection will be interesting to see,” said The Shamrock, a well known member on Celtic Noise.
“Will we play the way we know we can or will we freeze as we have done many times, particularly away. I’m swinging from near complete optimism to worried we will cause our own downfall through unforced errors that have blighted our progression too many times.
“I want Hatem to be fit, so we aren’t going in with a makeshift defence again, that all but done us last year. To me, especially away, is our key area of concern and one that we haven’t solved for years. So when he went off injured my alarm started to ring.
“If our front to mid perform, we have a chance to beat anyone left barring our qualification, but it’s the defence that always haunts me. Always.
“The defence need to step up and give confidence to those in front of them that if they try something and lose the ball then they will be there. Too many times in the past you could see the confidence drain as mistakes at the back made our players less likely to try things, for the fear of putting the defence under pressure they couldn’t deal with.
“The defence wasn’t tested on Saturday, they almost certainly will be in these two vital games and they need to be on it. The truth now is one injury and we are facing Ajer playing out of position or Ralston, who is not at the level any team hoping to qualify for the Champions League needs.
“The need to have Hatem fit with no adequate cover if he fails the fitness test, is again an indication we take too long to sign the players Lenny himself stated on numerous occasions he needs.
“Seat of the pants Celts once again. With the money and prestige awaiting I see no excuse for this dithering. Although I know Cluj are viewed as a good team, but if we are to move up a level then they shouldn’t be able to stop us.
“I think Celtic will knock Cluj out, but the ghost of Champions League past looms large in my mind with Hatem potentially being out. These games to me are amongst the most exciting and most nerve shredding for me, knowing how getting them right can see us dissapear over the horizon.
“Have we done enough to ensure we make it? That’s the question that will be answered on Wednesday. If we do them, then another step up against the Czechs really needs us to have the targets in for that. As we all know, that’s never been our strongest point. If we had them all and failed then that’s a case of it wasn’t meant to be, they weren’t good enough etc, but if we don’t and go with hope, that’s an abdication of responsibility.
“I have butterflies, but Lawwell must have a couple of Albatross battering around in his gut, because if we fail again due to not get players bedded in to help us, it’s down to him. No pressure Peter. Your old fallback of hope to the fore, yet again, which won’t wash with most of the support. Especially if it’s a makeshift defence that undermines us.
“Come on Hatem, please make it son. Both Peter and I need it,” writes Theverdict11, another well known member on the popular Celtic Noise forum. Why not sign up and join in the lively, often humorous and always upbeat Celtic conversation on Celtic Noise? Signing up is quick and easy and all Celtic supporters are welcome.
Cluj v Celtic kicks off tomorrow evening at 7pm (Celtic Park Time) and is being shown live on Premier Sports and on Celtic TV outside the Great Britain and Ireland.
