TALKING CELTIC ALPH’SPLAYING FORKEEPS
Areola desperate to stop old pal Dembele ruining his glove story
We are always very happy when a young Parisian is playing at this level
TIN PARIS WITH CELTIC HEY shall not pass. That old battle cry once associated with Marshal Petain at the Battle of Verdun might equally apply this evening to Alphonse Areola, the Paris St Germain goalkeeper.
Some seriously superstar outfits have graced the Champions League in the last quarter of a century but none have ever managed to get through the group stages without letting at least one goal in.
Yet with 360 minutes of continental play successfully behind him, that is the remarkable milestone which this 24-year-old youth product is closing in on as Celtic come calling tonight.
Preventing Group B’s billionaires of Boulogne-Billancourt from adding to the 17 goals they have scored without reply in their four matches to date, one suspects, will be another matter but that is why Celtic would be entitled to regard it as a moral victory if they can become the first team to put a blemish on this young man’s clean-sheet record.
While Areola said that securing top spot in the group, and the seeding which goes along with it, was his main priority, you got the feeling yesterday that he quite fancies writing his place in the tournament’s record books.
On the evidence of Saturday in Dingwall you might suggest that his biggest problem would be making sure to concede no free kicks i n dangerous positions when Leigh Griffiths is on the field, but Areola knows another man they must keep quiet is his old youth academy pal Moussa Dembele.
“I have been following him [Dembele] very closely because I know him from the youth academy even if I was a bit older than him,” said Areola yesterday.
“He is a very good player and he has a lot of quality.
“If he is playing [tonight] it is because he has the quality and ability to play for such a big team. We are always very happy when a young Parisian is doing well and can play at this level.”
RATHER than avoid the issue for fear of becoming side-tracked, Emery has asked Areola to embrace this chance to make history.
“The manager speaks a lot to us about this record,” said the goalkeeper, who has won the starting spot ahead of Germany international Kevin Trapp. “He does not hide it. Every player has to start the game at 100 per cent. We have to concentrate every single moment.
“Not to concede a goal would be exceptional,” he added. “We have to finish first in the group, that’s the priority, but to do it without conceding a goal would be wonderful. We have really good players in defence and playing in this team is a great chance for me to show that I deserve to be at this level.”
It is Celtic’s misfortune that PSG, imperious 5-0 winners in Glasgow in the group’s opening match day, still have plenty to play for tonight.
While they perhaps have one eye on the weekend top-of-thetable clash with last year’s champions Monaco – PSG are six points clear and will remain top regardless of the result – any win will be enough to secure a seeded spot at the last 16 stage, barring the most outlandish 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the final matchday.
Barring Thiago Motta – the Brazilian veteran is in USA undergoing a knee operation – and perhaps his countryman Thiago Silva Silva, who may be rested rested, they will be at full strength.
WITH Kylian Mbappe, rested against Nantes, likely to be restored to the first team, the really bad news for Celtic is the competition for places PSG have throughout the team.
The injured Motta’s place is likely to go to Julian Draxler, a move which will facilitate Adrien Rabiot – at least until Brazilian wonderkid Wendel arrives in the summer – playing a more defensive midfield role.
“We want to perform well in this game, that’s what we are aiming for,” he said. “There is also competition for places in the team which is good for us. We have a lot of games coming up before Christmas. It is important to keep this collective spirit and I’m very happy with the players who are on the pitch and the ones who are waiting for their opportunity.
“We will try to maintain our recent level of performance in this game. We are changing players and many of them have shown they are ready. We always have the same performance even when we change.”
Emery said he was delighted with how his goalkeeper has been progressing – even if he rather downplayed his bid for history. “I think he is a very talented player,” said Emery.
“But he can also develop his game, there are many things he can improve. We have spoken with the goalkeeping coaches but he has the talent.
“Last season in the first half of the season I spoke to all the goalkeepers, and said I want him to be calm and confident. I am very happy with what he’s done but also the other players like Kevin Trapp. But Alphonse is playing, doing very well and I am very happy about that.”