BRENDAN RODGERS last week outlined the reasons why he believes that Celtic will not be able to reach the latter stages of the Europa League, never mind the Champions League, as a result of the financial imbalances that currently exist in the game.
Zenit arrived in Glasgow and their manager Roberto Mancini is actively targeting success in this season’s Europa League. The big spending Russian side were clear favourites for the tie before the game kicked off last Thursday night. Celtic impressed. Zenit didn’t. Celtic got the goal that their play merited and take that to St Petersburg on Thursday.
If that can be successfully defended as Kristoffer Ajer talked about TODAY, then Celtic will be in the last 16 of this year’s competition and some of the more optimistic Celtic supporters will start to think that a trip to Lyon in May is on.
One such optimistic Celtic supporter spoke about this yesterday. Asked if he reckoned Celtic could get to the final, the former Celtic boss Neil Lennon said:
Why not? There are some very good teams still in there such as Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Leipzig, Villarreall and others.
“But the more you progress you get a sniff of it, the juices and instinct kick in, but to get past Zenit first, that’s a big ask.
“I think Russian teams at times can be a bit soulless.
“I didn’t expect Zenit to travel well and at home. I expect them to be a different proposition, but there’s no reason why Celtic can’t go there and score.
“On Thursday, Zenit had one opportunity. Dorus de Vries made the save, but after that they lacked an intensity to the game.
“Look at the goal. Their centre-half was half-hearted when Dembele has gone inside him. I expect them to be a different animal, but Celtic have given themselves an opportunity which is fantastic.
“The result on Thursday was tremendous from their point of view with the injuries and the quality of opposition they were playing and the level of performance,
“They are going to need all that again on Thursday, but Brendan Rodgers will know that.”
Brendan though has said nothing on this since the win last Thursday, which he took a great dal of personal satisfaction from. His team selection on Sunday suggests that he is fully focused on the return leg. If it can be negotiated then we could be in for a wonderful European adventure.
Neil Lennon was our guest on The Celtic Star Podcast – A Celtic State of Mind a few weeks ago. It’s certainly worth catching if you haven’t heard it already. Our current guest is none other than Frank McAvennie who is talking mostly about the Centenary Season double. Again, it is another great listen…
