We’ll boot Celtic out the back door
AEK coach tells stars to expose Hoops’ defensive frailties
High pressure might create issues MARINOS OUZOUNIDIS
MARINOS OUZOUNIDIS insists his ice-cool Athens assassins can expose Celtic’s defensive frailties and fire them out of the Champions League.
The AEK boss put all of the pressure on to the Hoops ahead of tonight’s secondleg clash in the Olympic Stadium as he picked through the bones of the Parkhead club’s issues.
Ouzounidis spoke like a man with every base covered.
Having seen his team dig out a 1-1 draw from the first encounter the AEK manager knows his men are in pole position to advance to the play-off round.
While Brendan Rodgers may have some aces up his sleeve, Ouzounidis seems to have a plan for all eventualities.
The Greek gaffer claims there is no pressure on his team and, although he’s aware of the unrest that’s enveloped the Hoops’ camp over the past week, he reckons it won’t affect the contest – instead his players will influence affairs.
Ouzounidis has a strategy for the possible comeback of Moussa Dembele but it’s at the other end of the pitch where he sees the potential for carnage.
Rodgers travelled without defender Dedryck Boyata, whose future is uncertain and stopper Kristoffer Ajer who is suspended.
The heat will be on the likes of Jozo Simunovic and Jack Hendry to stand tall in the Greek capital but, while Ouzounidis tried to insist he respects all of the Parkhead players, he also let it slip he’s seen clear weaknesses his troops can exploit.
He said: “In the first match we saw that if we exercise high pressure this might create some issues for their defending line.
“Simunovic and Hendry have played in some major Celtic wins. They are great players with great qualities. Ajer and Boyata are equally good with their own qualities.
“But I watched their match against Hearts. They did have some issues but this wasn’t just a result of their defensive performance, it was the whole team.
“When you have a top club, defenders don’t just want to clear the ball away, they want to play and keep it down and build the play.
“Celtic are a major club which means all the players featuring are of great quality.
“No matter who plays we know they will deliver given they have different qualities, different skills. It’s the same with Simunovic or anyone else selected.
“Yes, there might be some issues within the club but this is a Champions League match and these issues are of minor importance. Their coach and players will put aside all these issues because there is a major challenge ahead. They won’t be affected.”
While Ouzounidis will have instructions for his frontmen he’s also briefed his backline on the potential threat of Dembele.
The Greeks kept a tight grip on Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths in the first game but the French Under-21 star’s return offers a differing challenge.
Ouzounidis said: “We’ve seen matches with Moussa starting so we know what his skills and his qualities are. He’s a different player to Edouard but we’re ready, we’ve prepared.”