Belgian Bailly backs Hoops

FORMER Celtic keeper Logan Bailly has backed his old side to beat his Belgian countrymen Anderlecht tonight.

Brendan Rodgers’ men travel to Brussels to face the Belgian champions in a crucial Champions League showdown.

Bailly spent two years at Parkhead as understudy to Craig Gordon before leaving in the summer to return to his homeland with Royal Excel Mouscron.

And he reckons Celtic have the upper hand for tonight’s clash.

He said: “Celtic haven’t won the Scottish league six times in a row for nothing.

“This Celtic side is a real team, who have excellent individuals.

“Moussa Dembele is quality, but he is just recovering from injury and the danger could come from elsewhere and Celtic have several weapons which could be fatal for Anderlecht.

“Leigh Griffiths, Scott Sinclair, Scott Brown and especially Patrick Roberts are all great players. Roberts is an exceptional player.

“Brendan Rodgers is also a renowned coach and has brought a mentality of being unbeatable.

“For me, Celtic are stronger than Anderlecht, but in football everything is possible.

“Anderlecht showed last season against Manchester United they can raise their game for big occasions.

“But if I was a betting man, purely for value, I would bet on Celtic.”

And Bailly made clear he loved his time in Glasgow.

He stated: “Celtic are a club full of history and passion, whose supporters are real fanatics, pushing their team to the end of the match.

“I enjoyed it. They say alcohol dominates in British football, but at Celtic it was super-professional.

“I played in the Bundesliga, I was told about the derbies in Turkey, but the atmosphere of Celtic Park is unique.

“I have never seen anything like it anywhere elsewhere – it’s atmospheres like that which remind you why you became a professional footballer.

“At a stadium like that, it makes you play better. And in the Champions League, the atmosphere climbs a few notches higher.”