No Paradise for us but AEK boss says: We will cope with atmosphere

Marinos Ouzounidis insists his AEK Athens players will cope with the red-hot atmosphere when his side face Celtic tonight.

Brendan Rodgers’ side host the Greek champions in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifier.

Ouzounidis, pictured, the former Panathinaikos manager who took over from Manuel Jimenez in the summer, will be in the technical area for his side’s first competitive game of the season and knows Celtic Park will be packed to its 60,000 capacity.

However, he believes his side will have the experience to shut out the noise and get on with the task of taking a positive result back to Athens for the return game next Tuesday night.

Speaking before his squad trained at celtic park, ouzo uni dis said :“I know they call Celtic Park a Paradise, but it will be a noisy Paradise. We know that it won’t be a Paradise for us. The atmosphere at Celtic Park is well known across Europe, but we will be ready for it.

“The players should enjoy the game. They should not be stressed out and give 100 per cent, do their best and play their normal game.

“Our players are used to the atmosphere when it is very noisy, it is like that in Greece with some of the big teams and big games. “There will be a big crowd but we will concentrate on the game plan.

“The Celtic fans will shout for their team to win tomorrow night but we can’t let that affect us. When we are in Greece, the same thing will happen. The crowd will shout for their team.

“It is natural that Celtic are favourites. They are a huge club with big history and with a very good coach and they have been winning everything in Scotland in the last few years.”