Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BROWN TO BUSINESS
Hoops skipper insists Celts can live with Dons clash after Lazio drama
DEFIANT Scott Brown insists Celtic don’t need any favours to get the job done at Aberdeen – because they’re fit enough to go the distance with any team, any time.
Even Rangers boss Steven Gerrard reckons the Hoops’ 62-hour turnaround, from Lazio to the trip north to take on the Dons in today’s 12.15 kick-off, is unfair and that the SPFL should be doing more to help Scotland’s Euro flag bearers.
But the Hoops skipper vowed there will be no excuses.
And they proved their fitness by outlasting the Serie A giants to the death on Thursday night.
Brown shrugged: “We could barely be going any further away – but we need to do it. We need to go up and deal with it and make no excuses.
“The squad had a day off on Friday to rest and try to recover so that we’re fresh and ready, as domestically the Aberdeen game is huge for us.
“It’s our bread and butter and we need to make sure we dominate the league. We need to create chances, score goals and maintain our form. “It’s all about the pressing and energy of the lads – but we kept going against Lazio until the 94th minute and looked the fitter team.
“I don’t think there have been many times we’ve said that against top-quality opposition that we looked the fitter team.
“And we could have played an extra 10 minutes there too – the lads have just got that belief in themselves.
“The Thursday-Sunday thing, it’s been like that for us for a while. It was the same last season when we were in the Europa League beyond Christmas and you just have to deal with it.”
Thursday’s goal hero Ryan Christie will miss today’s clash with the Dons due to suspension while French midfielder Olivier Ntcham will sit the game out as he recovers from an ankle injury.