A LEIP INTO DARK
Edouard: Germans won’t know what’s hit them at sold out Celtic
Edouard, 18, 39, Benkovic 26, Forrest, 65, Christie,89 pen) ODSONNE EDOUARD has warned RB Leipzig they are going to meet a very-different Celtic this week. The Germans head to Glasgow for the Europa League Group B showdown looking to deliver a fatal blow to the qualification hopes of Brendan Rodgers and his team.
Leipzig plunged Celtic nearer the tournament’s exit door when they beat the Hoops 2-0 on their own patch 11 days ago. However, Edouard is convinced his team’s hot-form will ensure their visitors are faced with a far-sterner task in the East End.
With the home fans also packing Parkhead to lift their heroes, the French man is convinced Celtic can rise to the mighty occasion as they look to revive their hopes of progressing in the competition.
Edouard said: “I think will be a totally different game to the match in Germany.
“There is a good dynamic about the team at the moment and we are in good form.
“We are always working harder to get better and trying to improve our standards to get the wins.
“It is also a home match for us, so it is going to be totally different [ from Germany].
‘We want to win every match, so that will be the same on Thursday evening against Leipzig.
“We know that this is a really important game for us, so we want to go into it with the best team approach and the best mindset.”
Rodgers believes his team are starting to hit top gear after their 5-0 weekend demolition of Hearts moved them to within a point of the title summit.
The Celtic manager knows victory is crucial on Thursday and said: “Every game here is a big
EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP B
one, a pressure game. But what is important is to stay calm.
“A win on Thursday keeps us alive in Europe. We know it’s going to be hard, but we’ll look to find a way to win.
“The results in the past few weeks have shown the level these players have been at for two-and-a-half years.
“We’ve taken hits in Europe, but to keep coming back with that kind of hunger is great.”
Meanwhile, Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi, below, reckons Celtic are about to hit a brick wall.
The Hungarian keeper, who played for Brendan Rodgers during his spell at Liverpool, believes his side are rock solid heading to Glasgow having bagged a sixth successive clean sheet at the weekend.
“It’s not just defenders, all of the team acts well when we do not have the ball.
“It’s great fun standing behind the guys and watching them do it.”
Coach Ralf Rangnick reckons his No.1 is being modest and praised his work in ensuring the sequence was extended.
He said: “We were the better team for 75 minutes, but we failed to do everything correct in the first half and we can thank Pete for not losing an equaliser.
“Overall, though, the stable defence is the key to our game.
“When they work against the ball, the boys all go with them. They are really enjoying keeping
clean sheets.” St Mirren 0 Rangers
ST MIRREN keeper Craig Samson has accused Daniel Candeias of lacking class and dignity.
The Portuguese winger helped Rangers claim a vital 2-0 win in Paisley with a wind assisted opener he later admitted was a fluke.
However, he was sent off in injury time by referee Willie Collum after the second strike by Alfredo Morelos in a decision Rangers boss Steven Gerrard later branded “embarrassing”.
Gerrard spoke after watching pictures of Candeias, above, being held in an embrace by Samson and then Anton Ferdinand, who also gave his rival a jab on the chin.
The Rangers player did not respond to the stern lectures being dished out by his rivals, which prompted Gerrard’s reaction to his second yellow card which cannot be appealed.