Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Anderlecht no easy opponent’
CELTIC defender Dedryck Boyata i s not fooled by Anderlecht’s poor start to the season.
Brendan Rodgers’ men face the Belgian side in their Champions League clash at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium tonight and the home side are in some disarray after the departure of Swiss manager Rene Weiler.
With former striker Nicolas Frutos placed in interim charge, Anderlecht came from behind to win 2-1 in the league against Wa a s l a n d - B ev e r e n o n Saturday but are seventh in the table, and they lost their Group B opener 3-0 away to Bayern Munich.
It is assumed that the tie offers Celtic, who lost 5-0 at home to Paris St Germain in their first Champions League fixture, the best chance to pick up points.
However, the 26-year-old Hoops defender, born and raised in Brussels, said: “We know we are not going to play against easy teams in our group.
“Now we are playing Anderlecht, it is not like we are playing against the 200 million (euro) player called Neymar but I come from Belgium, I know how big Anderlecht is.
“I know how hard it will be and all the players know how hard it will be. There is no easy opponent in the Champions League.
“They are having a bad time right now but it doesn’t mean anything. It i s a Champions League game and it is a very important game for both teams.”
Boyata will have some familiar faces watching him on his return to his home town but is focused only on taking three points back to Glasgow.
He said: “I have loads of family, l oads of friends coming. It is my home town, I come from Brussels, I was born in Brussels but I am playing for Celtic.
“I am playing against a club I have known since I was a young player but I will have the same focus for the game and that’s it.”