Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen probably would have had more joy selling his weather warnings to most other countries other than Scotland but you have to admire his persistence in getting his winter wonderland message out ahead of tomorrow’s Europa Conference League second leg play off match against the Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
Ange Postecoglou at his media conference earlier today – see below – explained that he opted to train at Celtic Park rather than on the plastic pitch at Bodo and also pointed out that his side has already played on two artificial surfaces this season at Livingston and Alloa. Ange is the Celtic manager and as he has said often enough he is paid to make decisions.
“First of all, I have to say something about the weather tomorrow. It’s snow, it’s cold and windy,” Knutsen stated as reported by Scottish Sun, presumably thinking that Tony Ralston & Co were topping up their tans in the Scottish sunshine before heading to Glasgow Airport to catch the charter flight that has now landed in Norway.
“So Celtic and the journalists are prepared for the game. The weather tomorrow will be awful. It’s really cold.”
Yes, we get that, “It’s pretty horrible here too mate,” might have been the response that Ange would have been saying if he’d seen these comments himself.
Could it be the coldest ever conditions that Celtic have played in, Knutsen was asked. ““Yeah, yeah, ever. For us it’s normal. It is winter in Bodo, so for us it is normal. But to play football in Bodo in February that is special for many teams and players. I think the pitch will also be good tomorrow.”
Clyde 1 Sports Reporter Gabriel Antoniazzi with an interesting glimpse into the life in a snow-covered Bodo…
🎥 WATCH: Our reporter @GabsAzzi gives Celtic fans a preview of what to expect in Bodø🥶
–@MoirTheLawyer pic.twitter.com/WXmTfLwf5b
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) February 23, 2022
Inside the stadium Bodo/Glimt players are put through their paces ahead of tomorrow’s early evening kick-off against Celtic. They’re making a big play of the bad weather, while Celtic Curio noted that on social media that he’d seen worse weather in East Kilbride in May. Message to the Norwegians, we are not Roma.
Hail Hail the Celtic are Here…Touch in Bodo For Celtic…
🛫🏴🛬🇳🇴
The Bhoys arrive in Norway ahead of our #UECL Playoff Second leg. #BODCEL | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/Rwlefalpoe
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 23, 2022
Matt Corr of this parish is on his way to Bodo now so expect some European Diaries in the days ahead if his fingers haven’t frozen over.
Bodo Town square….anyone planning on standing around with a carryout tomorrow might want to pack some thermals 🤪 pic.twitter.com/8mwFinRerw
— Colm Garvey (@colm1798) February 23, 2022
Looking back on the first leg which the Norwegian Champions won 3-1 at Celtic Park, Kjetil Knutsen said: I think the game at Celtic Park was a really good game. We knew before the game that we would be playing against an attacking team.
“It’s so important against this team to defend because they want us to open. I really felt in the last game that we defended well but in the end we opened too much space left side and right side. There were many crosses in our box.
“We scored the first goal. That was really important. Then we controlled the game. But after they scored to make it 2-1 and it was really a great atmosphere in the stadium. But it was lucky we scored 90 seconds after.
“We have analysed the game and we are well prepared for a hard game. I think we learned a lot from the last game. We know we are playing against an attacking team. I think they will do the same. It’s an interesting game because it’s an attacking team against an attacking team – so hopefully we will get a lot of chances in the game.
“Celtic have the same DNA. They have a style and I think they will attack the game the same way as the last game. They start really aggressive against us, so I think they will do the same tomorrow and its only two goals and it’s ninety minutes. I think they will have analysed the game and I think they will try to win the ball and press us even higher.
“I’m sure they will attack our goal even more than the last game. I think I will remember the home game against Roma for the rest of my life. That was an amazing game and we played a very good game also away. For us we love to play games in Europe.
“The most interesting thing about them is what you learn.I want to do well with these players and this team.”
And the Bodo/Glimt manager was full of praise for the Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou. “The manager has done a great job with the team.
What for me is the most interesting is how they play football. Celtic’s DNA I really think is similar to Bodo/Glimt. He’s new in the job. He needs time.
“If you ask me, I have watched a lot of games and I really felt they have taken a lot of steps in the last couple of months. I think he and his team will be a very good team in Europe in the future.”
Here’s Ange’s media conference in case you haven’t seen it yet…
