Celtic v RK Reykjavik in the Champions League qualifier on Tuesday sees a welcome return to action after we missed out on Premiership encounters with both St Mirren and Aberdeen due to Bolingoli’s illicit and clandestine trip to Spain after the opening match against Hamilton.
That trip has caused Celtic to fall behind in the league and looks like the club could be hit with a huge £100,000 fine, with the £3m signing from Rapid Vienna looking like being banned for 8 matches. Effectively though he’s be paying that fine from his own wages and he’ll never kick another ball again For Celtic.
LIVINGSTON DO A KILMARNOCK on the Rangers…
The threat of Celtic dropping eleven points behind the Rangers ended this afternoon with Steven Gerrard’s side dropping two points in a goalless stalemate on the plastic surface against a dogged Livingston. Good viewing it was not! That means that if Celtic win our games in hand we’ll be joint top – as things stand – alongside Hibs and the Rangers, and a few goals will see us clear on goal difference.
Celtic hammered Hamilton 5-1 in the opening game of the season at Celtic Park.
CALMAC’S DON’T PANIC MESSAGE
CALLUM McGREGOR isn’t too concerned about the two postponements caused by the stupidity of Boli Bolingoli, who effectively ended his playing career with one overnight stay, apparently to meet a female, in Spain last week. The games will get played whenever it is possible and the Celtic midfielder reckons that the ground will be made up when that happens.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to panic at all. We are only focused on ourselves. We have been through this week and we have got a positive game to look forward to on Tuesday against KR Reykjavik.
“In terms of actual fitness, I don’t think missing the games will be a major factor going into the qualifier,” Calmac said, as reported by Scotsman. “It’s more about match sharpness and decision making, after the turnover and recovery from games. We had played a couple of games and the boys were starting to find their feet and their level. But the quicker turnover of games from midweek to the weekend would have helped us in terms of sharpness.
“Instead we have a five, six day lead-up to the game so it’s a case of doing your fitness work and then tapering off. Our fitness shouldn’t be impacted too much but it would have been nice to have a few more games to get more match sharpness.
“It would have been nice to get back to playing quickly to make up for the disappointment of that day (at Rugby Park). That would have been ideal but we are now looking ahead to the qualifier.
“It’s a nice game to have and we have to get it right on the night. There is big pressure on the boys to get the win and make sure we go through. But we look at that as a positive.
“Once we get the games there then we focus on every game at a time. It’ll just be further down the line that we catch up on those fixtures.”
McGregor reckons that the Celtic squad has the experience to cope with the early season frustrations and also recognises that the importance ion this season means that the intensity levels are already sky-high as Celtic chase the magical Ten-in-a-Row.
“There are instances the boys have dealt with it brilliantly as a group and it is not different now. The boys understand what’s at stake and how we have to come forward in a positive light and show our togetherness again.
“When you are successful year on year the target gets bigger on your back. It is up to the players to defend the club and defend the supporters. The boys are well aware of their responsibility to the club and the fact they have to deliver going forward.
“So we are in a positive frame of mind, looking forward to the game on Tuesday night. We just want to get back out on the grass where we can play our football and show everyone we are together.”
RUSTY REYKJAVIK
KR REYKJAVIK manager Runar Kristinsson has admitted that his side will be rusty when the play at Celtic Park on Tuesday evening in the Champions League first round Qualifier. Icelandic football resumed this week after the Coronavirus lockdown but Celtic’s next opponents suffered a 2-1 defeat to FH Hafnarfjaroar to dent their title aspirations and Kristinsson’s side also suffered a couple of injuries to key players Kristinn Jonsson and Kristjan Floka ahead of the short trip to Glasgow.
The RK Reykjavik boss admits that it all adds up to a less than ideal preparation for the task of facing Celtic on Tuesday.
“You could see we were not sharp, we lacked any kind of rhythm and that’s why it was extremely important to get a game under our belts before we play Celtic,” the KR boss said, as reported by Scottish Sun. “They’ve made it very difficult to get into shape too with the regulations about training. There is no contact allowed and there is also a two metre rule, so we are not training properly either.
“Also, it’s very disappointing to lose two players before such a big game. We will have to assess both players to see if they are okay. We still have players in the squad who can fill in, but it’s obviously not ideal after such a long break.”
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
THE CELTIC manager reckons that there’s no place like home as he looks forward to the visit of Reykjavik on Tuesday after the last two games were postponed due to the stupid and selfish behaviour of Boli Bolingoli. Premiership postponements against St Mirren and Aberdeen have given Neil Lennon and his players plenty of time to prepare for the beginning of their Champions League campaign.
“Reykjavik is a home tie, which is all you can ask for, really,” Lennon told the Celtic View. “We’re looking forward to that and getting back to Celtic Park.
“It’s one leg so we’re going to have to try and hit our peak and make sure we get the job done. It’ll be difficult, there’s a lot of tension that goes into these games, but it’s important to try and negotiate these ties and get Champions League football.
“There’s no question the fans will be missed. There’s no better place to be than a European game at Celtic Park. It’s been a huge positive for us and it manifested itself last season in the Europa League with the players responding to that.
“We have to adapt and get used to this new norm for however long it’s going to be. We have to be consistent, win the games and find our best form as we go along.”
WHERE AND WHEN
Celtic v KR Reykjavik is on Tuesday evening, 18 August at Celtic Park. The match is being played Behind Closed Doors with a kick-off time of 7.45pm Celtic Park Time.
