BAYER LEVERKUSEN v CELTIC
CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS admits it’s taken two months for the climate change at Celtic to move from net zero to something much more acceptable.
A 4-0 Europa League home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in September became the benchmark for early season woes as the Hoops racked up a fifth loss in eight games and sat pointless in Group G after two rounds of fixtures.
Fast forward to tonight’s clash in the BayArena and Ange Postecoglou’s side are back in the qualification hunt after back-to-back wins over Ferencvaros.
Defensive issues also appear to be remedied, having conceded only six goals in a nine-game unbeaten run since that painful previous meeting with the Bundesliga cracks.
Sorry September feels like a lifetime ago as far as Carter-Vickers is concerned.
He said: “It was a couple of months ago now and we have improved since then as a team, both attacking wise and defensively.
“We are in a different kind of mood now as a squad. We are confident we can go there and play our football – and try to get a result.
“It will be a good game and a real test for us. But with our recent run of results, I’m confident we can go there and get something.
“Obviously overall we have had a tough group with Betis, Leverkusen and Ferencvaros. But at this stage we have six points and we’re still in with a shout of getting through to the knockout rounds in the Europa League so that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
If Celtic can emerge from this test with at least a point, it will set up a December 9 shoot-out for second place with Betis who sit one point in front as they host the Hungarians tonight.
It’s a proposition on-loan Tottenham defender Carter-Vickers has underlined as a priority.
He said: “100 per cent, that’s the aim. As long as we can still qualify, that’s what we want to do.
“We know if we can get something in Germany then it sets up a big game back at home against Betis. We would go into that one confident as well.
“The big European nights at home are really good. To be fair, not just the European nights, I think all the games are good.
“The stadium is always full for the league games as well as the European ones.
“The atmosphere is incredible for every game. I look forward to them all.”
And one note of encouragement for the 23-year-old comes in the shape of stats showing a Leverkusen side sitting fourth in the Bundesliga have shipped 11 goals in six home league games.
CarterVickers is equally aware of the attacking threats that will come his way but he’s adamant Celtic’s approach will be to take the game to the Germans.
He said: “Leverkusen are a top side. They have great attacking players, quick attacking players who play in a top league in the Bundesliga.
“We know it’ll be a test for us but we just have to go there, try to impose our style on the game and see what happens.”
Celtic are already guaranteed European football beyond Christmas as they have the Conference League as security if they exit the Europa.
But Carter-Vickers isn’t ready to consider the fallback option.
He said: “It’s good to know we have that but while we can still qualify for the Europa League, that’s what we want to do. We want to aim as high as we can and at the moment we can still do it, so that’s what we want.”
The Spurs man has been a consistent and impressive performer at the back for Postecoglou since making the temporary switch from London on deadline day and he hasn’t ruled out a permanent stay in Glasgow.
Carter-Vickers, as yet, has had no conversations with new Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, below, and he conceded a long-term future with the Hoops could be on the horizon.
He added: “It’s something that I’m open to but I haven’t given it much thought at this stage, to be fair.
“I still have plenty of games left in this season and that is my focus.
“I have really enjoyed it. The staff and the players have been really good with me and that’s helped me.
“It’s still early days but for me personally – and as a team – we’ve got to keep going and keep the consistency.
“For me at the moment, I’m here at Celtic, I’m a Celtic player, so my focus is more on impressing the manager here and trying to get results for Celtic. Anything further than that I haven’t really given much thought to.
“I feel like I have adapted to the Scottish Premiership. That is partly down to the coaches and the players here making me feel so welcome from the beginning.
“The coach has put in a system that is easy to adapt to and play in. That’s helpful.
“Last season I was at Bournemouth and we got to the play-offs in the Championship.
“The year before that I was at Luton. When I went there in January we were at the bottom and we managed to stay up.
“So I have had a few good ones and a few where I’ve learned something but this is definitely one where I’m learning a lot. I’m enjoying my
football.”
If we can get something in Germany it sets up a big game back home with Betis CAMERON CARTERVICKERS ON SQUAD’S PUSH FOR KNOCKOUT STAGES