Bain: We need to have the mentality of a successful cup campaign
Scott Bain reckons Celtic can secure their place in the Champions League group stage by treating qualification like a trophy.
The Hoops face the Estonians of Nomme Kalju on Wednesday night after beating FK Sarajevo home and away in the first qualifying round.
After missing out on the group stages last season, there is a real determination to get the job done this time around.
And, with nine consecutive domestic trophies behind them, Bain reckons the Hoops must use their big-game knowhow to ensure their passage to European club football’s biggest stage.
“I think we need to look at it like winning a Cup,” said the 27-year-old keeper. “We need it, we want it, but we will play more games to get to the Champions League than we would do to win a cup in Scotland.
“It’s a good aim for us to go into every game like a cup final. The lads have achieved it before. They know how to do it.
“It’s just a case of taking on their experience and the manager’s experience from doing it before and, hopefully, we can go all the way. But it’s still early days.”
Second qualifying round opponents Nomme Kalju should not pose the Hoops too many problems.
But from the third round onwards, truly dangerous opponents lie in wait.
Nevertheless, Bain reckons Celtic have no reason to fear anybody.
“For everyone here, qualifying would be amazing,” he said.
“This is a club that wants to be at that level. We want to show we can perform at that level and get the accolades we deserve. “This is massive for the club.”
But not just for the club.
After being let go by Aberdeen as a teenager, Bain toiled for three years at Alloa Athletic before a move to Dundee.
The circumstances of his move to Celtic – off the back of an unfixable fall-out with then Dundee boss, Neil McCann – raised eyebrows.
But just over a year after he signed a permanent deal, he is loving his role as the champions’ No. 1.
“I wasn’t thinking about the Champions League when I was at Dundee,” he laughed.
“But when we played against Valencia in the Europa League last season, for me that was Champions League opposition.
“Given the money they spend on players,
we all performed excellently, especially over there. We can all take confidence from that, even though we got beat.
“They were a top side, so it was a nice learning curve for me to say I can play at that level and standard.”
Despite his apparent No. 1 status, Bain insists he will never feel comfortable while a goalkeeper of Craig Gordon’s ability is lurking behind him.
But with a makeshift defence in front of him against Sarajevo, he is doing his best to make the Hoops’ rearguard feel confident.
“Everyone seems to fit in really quick here and they are all good players, so my job is just to be vocal all the time,” Bain continued.
“Hopefully, the instructions I give help them settle into the back-four, as well as those that other boys who play there all the time can give them.
“The back-four have been excellent again. It was the same last season.
“Whoever came in did a job to a high standard. We can be confident whoever goes in there this time can do a great job.”
New recruit Christoffer Jullien is expected to slot in at centre-half once he reaches match fitness.
Having seen him in action in training, Bain reckons the Frenchman will quickly make his presence felt.
“He’s strong, quick, powerful, and a good passer of the ball,” the goalie said.
“No one has really got by him yet. He’s had a long off-season, so he’s getting time to reach full fitness and get up to full speed.
“He’ll be a welcome addition to the team.”