DANCING WITH THE PSG STARS
Klimala doesn’t fear prospect of facing the finest France have to offer in friendly
OVER here in the City of Love, Celtic are about to embark upon a dangerous liaison with a strike force which is capable of unspeakable acts of cruelty.
Paris Saint-Germain’s £409million attacking triumvirate features the world’s two most expensive players, Neymar (£198m) and Kylian Mbappe (£166m); backed by Mauro Icardi, bought permanently from Inter Milan in May for the relatively miserly sum of £45m.
So far the Qatari-bankrolled side’s form in pre-season has been devastating, scoring 16 goals without reply in two matches.
The French champions beat Le Havre 9-0 away — ‘it could have been 15’, said Le Havre manager and former Rangers boss Paul Le Guen — and Waasland-Beveren 7-0 at home as they prepare for their Champions League last-16 tie with Atalanta next month.
In a sign that ruthless PSG particularly enjoy humiliating opponents, on Friday night Neymar, having already converted a penalty against the second-tier Belgian side, opted to pass a second spot-kick to Icardi who converted to make it 3-0.
Ominously, the Brazilian has vowed his team will be even stronger by the time they face Celtic tomorrow evening and Neymar certainly has form against the Scottish champions.
In his six matches against Celtic for both Barcelona and PSG the 28-year-old has netted seven times and contributed eight assists.
The last time Celtic faced PSG in 2017 he was one of the stars of the show as Brendan Rodgers’ side lost 5-0 at Celtic Park and 7-1 in Paris in the Champions League.
Yet despite lofty reputations, hefty price-tags, and ominous current form, Patryk Klimala insists Celtic can’t afford to be frightened by the daunting task they face at the Parc des Princes. ‘It’s a normal game,’ said the Parkhead side’s Polish forward.
‘If we go into it scared then we will have lost before the match even starts.
‘Yes, it’s Paris Saint-Germain but we will play like we would play against anybody.
‘They are only human? Of course. They have a lot of big names like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar and I have watched them in the Champions League.
‘But I think out on the pitch we have a good chance to win the game.’
A £3.5m signing from Jagiellonia Bialystok in January, Klimala finally scored his first goal for Celtic in the 1-1 draw with Nice in Lyon last Thursday.
He started the following match against Lyon as Celtic lost 2-1 and the Veolia Trophy went to Rangers, who beat both French sides 2-0.
Klimala admitted last week that he spent lockdown working on bulking up his physique after tough training ground duels with defender Christopher Jullien left his body and ego bruised.
With Leigh Griffiths left at Lennoxtown after reporting back from lockdown out of shape, the Poland Under-21 attacker feels ready to make his mark on the team when Celtic kick off their Scottish Premiership campaign at home to Hamilton Accies on August 2. He said: ‘Last season it was hard and difficult but I feel in good shape. I feel good for the start of the season. I feel ready. I am ready. ‘We had a fitness programme to follow during lockdown and I did that.
‘I did a lot of mobility and gym work and now I feel the benefit on the pitch. ‘In the past, I didn’t have a chance against my team-mates in training. But now I feel good. ‘But I never set targets before a season because you never know how a season will go.’ Klimala has also been helped by using his spare time during lockdown to improve his English. This has allowed him to tune into his team-mates in the dressing room and feel more part of the bonhomie of the squad. He said: ‘I started learning English in January. I have my own teacher and I get lessons every week. I am still learning! ‘It’s good for relationships. I have a good relationship with my team-mates, that was why I wanted to do it. I understand my team-mates’ jokes now.’
Meanwhile, right-back Jeremie Frimpong believes the calibre of tomorrow night’s opponents will be a huge help as Celtic prepare for the tightrope of the Champions League qualifiers, which are one-legged affairs this summer due to Covid-19.
He said: ‘PSG are a good side and it’s all about getting ready for the start of the season.
‘These games will help us with the Champions League qualifiers, but it will also prepare us for the start of the league.’
Frimpong broke into the first team earlier than expected last season, proving a smash hit as Celtic won the Betfred Cup then the league when the Premiership season was curtailed due to the global pandemic.
But the 19-year-old former Manchester City defender is greedy for more silverware and is adamant his best form is yet to come.
‘Last season went so well,’ he said. ‘I had belief in myself whenever I stepped on to the pitch that I could go out and do my best to help the team.
‘I am surrounded by top players, so that makes it much easier for me.
‘But I still feel like I can improve on everything. I can get better with my defending; and my attacking. You always want to improve.
‘We analyse every game and go through the good points and bad points, and it all helps me. But it was a good feeling getting the medal for winning the title.
‘Obviously the situation was strange (with the season finishing early) but it was my first league winner’s medal, so it was really special.
‘I have my Betfred Cup medal as well and they are on a shelf in my house.
‘Hopefully, there will be many more to come.’