Stoilov: We fear Celts attacking pedigree

ASTANA’S coach today ramped up the mind games with Brendan Rodgers by insisting his team are the underdogs for today’s Champions League qualifier.

And Stanimir Stoilov revealed his team will approach the game defensively.

Astana are undefeated at home in Europe in the last two seasons and last term they held Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Galatasaray to draws at the Astana Arena after qualifying for the Champions League group stages for the first time in their history.

But Stoilov, who will be without his captain and attacking midfielder Tanat Nusserbayev, insisted Brendan Rodgers’ side are more likely to win the third qualifying round games and progress to the play-off stage.

“It is going to be a very hard game for us,” he said. “We are going to play a defensive game.

“I know enough about the Scottish champions. Celtic play very well. They are a very attack-minded side, but we will try as much as we can and we will see what the result is tomorrow.

“They are favourites because they have big history at the club. They become champions of Scotland many times and they have many trophies.”

Stoilov added: “The main thing for us is discipline. We have to be disciplined tomorrow. We have to play with brave hearts and strong minds. The last thing is the key to success.

“Brendan Rodgers. He worked with the best teams in the world and he has built a smart team and a completed team.”

Celtic were defeated 2-0 on the last occasion they travelled to Kazakhstan – for the first leg of the Champions League play-off against Shakhter Karagandy three years ago.

Stoilov has several players who were involved that evening and is hopeful that will help Astana to get a result that keeps alive their hopes of progressing to the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition for the second season running.

He said: “Shakhter played against them three years ago and three or four of our players were involved against Celtic at that time. It’s not important who will win tomorrow, it is important who will pass into the next stage.”