The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Celtic boss comfortable with underdog tag for Europa League tie
Celtic boss insists Zenit will start as favourites in Europa League last-32 tie
Boss Brendan Rodgers claims Celtic would upset the odds by knocking Zenit St Petersburg out of the Europa League.
Celtic take on the big-spending Russian side in the first leg of their last32 clash at Parkhead tonight with the return game a week later.
Zenit won five and drew one of their six Europa League group games to reach the knockout stages whereas the Scottish champions dropped down from the Champions League by finishing third behind European superpowers Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich with just one win in six.
“In terms of the standings of both teams across Europe, it would be fair to say that they would obviously be favourites,” said Rodgers.
“People within football will probably look at it and see Zenit as the team who would be favourites to go through. “We have to be realistic as always. “We know where we stand in relation to some of the superpowers and finances at this level.
“There are some great teams in the Europa League and the nature of the competition means it is very difficult for us, and like the Champions League, we are going to be tested to the limits in terms of where we are at in comparison to the other teams. “But it is a really exciting challenge. “We have got our reward by getting through the group stage and hopefully we can perform very well and get a result.”
Rodgers, however, does not believe the Hoops go into the tie pressure-free.
The former Swansea and Liverpool boss said: “They have won five out of six games in the Europa League qualification and will come into this game as favourites with the quality they have.
“But there will always be pressure when you are a Celtic manager or player, despite the disparity in finances.
“You always want to do well, and do well for your supporters and of course we want to get through to the last 16.
“So we will always put pressure on ourselves but I have always said it is a privilege when you work at a club like Celtic and you have to do your very best.”
The Northern Irishman insists it would take “something magical” to prevent continual European struggle for the champions of Scotland.
“It is always going to be difficult for Scottish teams,” he said.
“First and foremost, for us, our task here is to always win the league to gain entry into qualification for Champions League and then that allows you to have greater funds in order to build your club.
“So unless something magical happens and there is a huge financial input to the club then of course it will always be a challenge for us.
“But it is still one we have to enjoy. It shouldn’t stop any hope of us always wanting to cause an upset.
“We have had some tough games in Europe over the last couple of season and we wouldn’t swap them for anything.”
Celtic winger Scott Sinclair believes Zenit boss Roberto Mancini will see a “much different” player when their paths meet again tonight.
The 28-year-old was signed by Manchester City in 2012 from Swansea when Mancini was in charge at the Etihad Stadium, but he failed to make an impact under the Italian, joining Aston Villa in 2015 after loan spells at West Brom and Villa, before arriving at Parkhead a year later.
Sinclair has become a mainstay of Rodgers’ side since then, winning a domestic treble in his first season and looking for a second this year, and is currently the Hoops’ top scorer with 17 goals.
The Englishman recalled his time under the Italian and said: “When I went to City I only played a few games under him. I am much different.
“But there are so many players there that didn’t really get as much game time as they would have liked.
“I am a much more different now, than then. I don’t have a point to prove to him, it’s for myself.
“You have these targets and the levels that you want to play at and for me it is working hard and giving it 100%.
“He is a very tactical manager, I am sure he will be doing a lot of tactical work to stop us performing tomorrow and I am sure he will be wanting to win the game.”
Mancini is refusing to rule former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic out of the clash at Celtic Park.
The 33-year-old Serbia international was expected to miss the first leg because of an eye injury. But Mancini has left the door open for the former Stanford Bridge star to feature.
“He has a problem with his eye but he is getting better, although he is not 100% yet,” said the former manager after arriving at Parkhead, where Ivanovic joined the rest of his team-mates for a training session.
“With his experience he is important to us.
“Maybe he can play or go on the bench. We will decide tomorrow.”
Zenit are the tournament’s top scorers with 17 goals, while Celtic struggled to keep their Champions League group rivals at bay as they shipped 18 goals in six matches.
But Mancini is refusing to look too closely at those painful results against two of Europe’s biggest superpowers.
The Italian, whose side are returning to action after a two month winter break, said: “It is always a difficult game in Glasgow. Celtic at home are a very tough
… unless something magical happens and thereisa huge financial input to the club then of course it will always be a challenge for us. BRENDAN RODGERS
team. The supporters always push the team. It is incredible. “Celtic played in a difficult group. “I think most teams would lose to PSG and Bayern. It was a tough group and they will be better in the Europa League.
“We can have a problem as it is the first game after a two-month break.
“That is the situation and we need to be at our best to reach the next round.
“If we are able to win this game that would be a good result ahead of the second leg next week – but I don’t think Brendan would agree with me.
“It is important to try to be offensive and try to score.”
Mancini is well aware of the strengths of Rodgers’ line-up having worked with Dedryck Boyata, Sinclair and Olivier Ntcham during his stint at the Etihad.
He recalled: “Boyata played his first game in Premier League when I was there and got a red card against Arsenal at home, but he was really young at the time.
“I bought Scott from Swansea and he was unlucky as our team was really strong, while Ntcham was just a kid in the second team.
“But they are all good players.”