PADDYLOSS WON’TKILLUS
Roberts injured for crunch Bayern Munich clash but Griff says...
LEIGH Griffiths has insisted Celtic can overcome the loss of Patrick Roberts ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich. The Hoops host the Bundesliga side but Roberts looked certain to be sidelined for at least a month after limping out of Saturday’s draw with Kilmarnock with a hamstring pull. The English winger was one of the few who didn’t look fazed when Celtic lost to Bayern a fortnight ago in the Allianz Arena, but Griffiths has maintained that the unity at the club will ensure they do not linger on the loss of a key player. “I think
whoever is playing knows how hard a game it is going to be,” said Griffiths, who netted his eighth goal of the season on Saturday.
“Obviously Patrick is a quality player. We have all seen that from his time here and he’ll be gutted to be out.
“It is a blow for him and for us but you can’t be looking at what you don’t have.
“We have James Forrest who has been in fire this season and we know that we can rely on him to come in and do a job.
“It is one of those games where we just want everyone to be up for it and hopefully we can give a right good account of ourselves.
“There were signs in the second-half over in Germany once we had settled down a bit where we showed what we can do and it was always going to be a different game here in Glasgow.”
Celtic’s win over Anderlecht in Brussels has given them the advantage in terms of claiming the Europa League spot after Christmas.
That in itself gives Celtic some security regardless of what happens against the might of Bayern and PSG but for Griffiths the aim is always to win.
“We aren’t thinking about Europa League or anything like that,” said the striker. “This will be a fabulous night under the floodlights at Celtic Park.
“This is what we wanted to get into the Champions League for.
“No-one is naive enough to think that it won’t be a really tough night for us but we still believe in ourselves that we are capable of going and putting on a performance.
“They have quality all through their team. But on our night I think we have shown that we can be a match for anyone here on our own turf.
“It is about belief and about trying to ensure that we play to our strengths and play with our heads.”
Moussa Dembele looks as though he might get the nod to start ahead of Griffiths tomorrow, but the striker is philosophical about the competition for places.
“It is all about the team,” he said. “It has to be.
“We are pushing one another and it is just about trying to do your best every day in training and in any games that you play.
“It is up to the manager to pick what he things is the best team for any particular game and you just have to make sure that you are playing to the best of your ability.
“As a striker you want to score goals and play well.
“Moussa came back and is fit, he had to wait for his chance and he took it with aplomb. So I was back in and scored a goal and we need to see what happens on Tuesday.
“You know how good a player Moussa is. I am a striker, I want to be selfish and in the team but ultimately it is down to the manager and who he sees fit to start the game.
“Whether it is me or Moussa we will give 100 per cent, it is all about the team, not individuals.”