Paddy: Victory in Belgium showsit’snot waffleforus to take points in Munich...
TALKING CELTIC
PATRICK ROBERTS has insisted that Celtic’s win i n Anderlecht last month will stand them in good stead as they head out to Munich this afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers’ side prepare for their third game in the group tomorrow night against Bayern Munich and while Roberts believes that Celtic can cause an upset, there is also a belief that some of the weight has been taken off the Parkhead side given they now look odds on to make it into the Europa League.
That one was always going to come down to a tussle between Celtic and Anderlecht and the 3-0 win in Belgium has put the Hoops in pole position to take it.
However, the forthcoming double header now between Celtic and Bayern Munich is one where Roberts believes the Parkhead side will go into in a positive frame of mind.
“They are one of the best teams in world football, they have loads of quality players – Lewandowski, Muller, Robben – so we will have to be really on our game,” said Roberts.
“But these are the occasions we strive for and enjoy. So we will look forward to that, be positive, show no fear and hopefully things work out for us.
“The Anderlecht game showed our quality and our intent this year, particularly after the first game against PSG. You might have thought it was the same as last year, but we had that mentality not to let that happen again.
“We have a great bunch of quality players and we knew we could go and get a result there. To go there and score three goals away from home was top drawer and we will take that into our next games.”
Roberts returned to Celtic for a second loan spell this summer after an initial 18-month period at the Parkhead club.
And it was the nights in Europe’s premier competition that he credits as being pivotal to his decision to head back to Glasgow this season. game on. The influential winger has just announced his retirement from the international stage but remains a player who carries a huge threat for Celtic.
It is his ability to come inside and eke out space for a shot that has endeared him particularly to Roberts.
THE Celtic player said: “I have always enjoyed the way he comes inside and shoots, I’ve said it before, I’ve tried to emulate that, come in and shoot like that.
“Since he was at Chelsea, and I was only a young boy. The way he has come on, I think he has retired from international football now. I scored one like that at training!
“Players like that put the hard work in at training throughout the years and that is why they are on the biggest stage in world football. Hopefully one day that can be me but I need to keep practising my technique.
“We will see how the game pans out. The thing is to go out there with a strong mindset and hopefully the game pans out and we get a good result.”
Roberts’ former colleague at Manchester City Jadon Sancho made the switch to Dortmund this summer, although the 20-year-old hasn’t had the chance yet to pick the brains of his fellow winger about what to expect from Munich.
H He was recalled by The game in the Allianz Bor Borussia from internation
al d duty, but Roberts has Arena is an opportunity not touched base with for the 20-year-old to him. im“h showcase his own talents “I don’t know if I will against the riches of one of get the chance to speak to Europe’s premier clubs. him him,” said Roberts. “He
“I’ve never played there wa was in India with the before,” said Roberts. “It Eng England Under-17s,” said will be a brilliant and difRob Roberts. ferent experience in Mu““But he is a top player. nich. I’ll look forward to it. He made the decision to
“This is why they go to Dortmund this sumbrought me back, and why I me mer which a lot of people wanted to come back. For mi might have thought was these nights, I want to push sur surprising but it is a great on in European competiop opportunity. tion, which is an aim. Hope“It is a massive team, fully we can do that.” he is a top player and I
Arjen Robben is one of am sure we will be seeing the players whom Roberts hi his name a lot in seasons has tried to mould his own to come.”