We will be brave this time, says bold Boyata
DEDRYK Boyata admits Celtic were full of ‘fear’ and ‘nerves’ when they lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena earlier this month.
But the Belgian international defender insists Brendan Rodgers’ men can blow Champions League Group B wide open if they are braver f or tonight’s visit of the German giants.
Jupp Heynckes’ injury-hit squad touched down in Glasgow yesterday without superstar strikers Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller.
And Boyata believes tonight’s show down isn’ t mission impossible for the Scottish champions as they seek the win that would see them join Bayern on six points.
‘In our last game against Bayern Munich we showed a bit of fear and nervousness,’ said the 26-year-old.
‘As a result, we didn’t play our normal game. We didn’t pass the ball the way we can. We were just defending and kicking the ball away.
‘It was a very good opportunity for us to go there and play in a big stadium in front of a lot of fans.
‘Sometimes there is a bit of intimidation when you know who you are playing against, but this is something we need to overcome. I’m sure we will be better on Tuesday night.
‘Can we win the match? I think anything is possible and a win might change a lot. It will be difficult but everyone can dream.
‘We’re playing against one of the biggest teams in Europe and players who have played in World Cup finals.
‘But we have nothing to lose. I don’t think we can say it’s impossible. We’ll just go for it.’
Celtic’s hopes of making it a Hallowe’en fright night for Bayern are certainly boosted by the absence of Lewandowski, who is known in Bavaria as ‘The Goal Monster’.
Yet the Germans were left open to accusations of treating the Scots lightly when chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed that, if tonight’s match had been against Real Madrid, the fearsome forward would have travelled with the squad.
Instead, the Polish striker remains in Germany to recover from a thigh injury in time for Saturday’s top- of-the-table Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Asked about Rummenigge’s comments, an unimpressed Boyata declined to be drawn on the issue.
But with world-class talent like Arjen Robben and Kingsley Coman in the Bayern ranks, he knows the visitors could play 4-6-0 tonight and still be a formidable attacking force.
‘That’s the first time I’ve heard that. I don’t even want to comment on that,’ said Boyata.
‘We just want to play as well as we can and show a better side of ourselves than we did when we lost 3-0 in Germany, so I don’t really care what their general manager has to say.
‘We were told in our team meeting on Monday morning that Lewandowski did not travel to Scotland but it doesn’t really change anything.
‘With or without Lewandowski, this game was always going to be very tough for us.
‘It’s still Bayern Munich and, even though they don’t have Lewandowski, they will find a solution.
‘It can make a difference but I’m sure they’ve been in the position where Lewandowski hasn’t played before, and they will be prepared for that.
‘They will find a way around it, although I’ve no idea what that will be yet.’