LEIGH GRIFFITHS remains annoyed at himself for missing a great chance against AEK Athens in the third round of Champions League qualifying last August and he’s determined to put that right against Cluj starting on Wednesday night.
The Celtic striker though reckons that Neil Lennon’s Champions League savvy could come into play with Celtic adopting a more pragmatic approach in the away leg before opening the attacking box of tricks the following Tuesday at a packed Celtic Park.
“The manager can be pragmatic when he needs to be. For all the negativity that he had last season, people forget he took this club to the last 16 of the Champions League,” Griffiths remained the media after the 7-0 win over St Johnstone, as reported by Evening Times.
“You see the way he can set up in Europe and frustrate teams and make us hard to beat. He’s given the fans a lot of memorable European nights.
“We will need to do the dirty stuff against Cluj over there. That’s the mark of a European tie away from home. We need to go there, be compact and solid, and look to break on them in the counter attack.
“We have the quality and speed to cause Cluj problems if we do that. We also need to be clinical against Cluj. We weren’t in Athens last year. I was guilty of missing a chance over there that I’d normally tuck away.”
“We never made it to the groups last year, but we have a chance to put that right this season,” Griffiths said.
“When you think of the teams we have beaten at that third round over the years, AEK weren’t the strongest. That’s gone now and we want to go and put it right. It’s about what we do but we are taking nothing for granted.
“We will respect Cluj because they are a decent side. We need to put in a strong performance and if we get a decent result, Celtic Park will be packed the week after for the return.”
Also on The Celtic Star…
Griffiths’ Goals Galore Promise – ‘The team has more goals in it now’…see HERE.
Celtic Supporters Stories – The Billy McNeill Tribute Mass in Cork…see HERE.
Green Brigade’s Beautiful Sunday as SWPL Opener finishes Celtic 3 Rangers 1…see HERE.
‘When I heard Celtic wanted me I wanted to come here,’ Bolingoli…see HERE.
‘To Lisbon and back on a Fiver,’ Jerry Woods…see HERE.
