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Kouassi is sure Celtic still have measure of Zenit
EBOUE KOUASSI has dismissed suggestions Celtic will be facing a vastly-improved Zenit St Petersburg side tomorrow.
Brendan Rodgers’ men head for Russia today having secured a precious lead at the midway point in the Europa League tie, courtesy of Callum McGregor’s late goal last Thursday.
Arriving in Glasgow straight from their winter training camp in Turkey, Roberto Mancini’s side failed to hit the heights that were expected of them.
Although Zenit are likely to be sharper seven days on, former Krasnodar player Kouassi believes the fact the Russian league doesn’t resume until the start of March means Celtic’s opponents will still not be up to full speed.
‘I don’t think Zenit will be much better than they were in Glasgow,’ said the 20-year-old Ivorian midfielder. ‘I think we will see the same team. Am I
confident of winning? Yes, I am hopeful. We will fight. We will play our best to get through. ‘The key for us to get through in Russia is to fight, as we did in the first leg. We need to keep pressing and pushing. We must attack as we did last week. ‘We have to play our normal game. We won’t go there to defend. We will play like we did on Thursday. We must try to score a goal.’ Kouassi joined Krasnodar from Armenian side Shirak in 2014, remaining in Russia until Celtic paid £3million for his services a year ago. A peripheral figure in his time there, he was part of three Krasnodar squads which left St Petersburg undefeated — but didn’t manage to get off the bench. While few teams can boast of such a record at the notoriously imposing St Petersburg Stadium, the midfielder believes it now holds no fears for him and his Celtic team-mates. ‘It’s a good stadium with one of the best atmospheres in Russia,’ he recalled. ‘Zenit are always dangerous at home. They don’t lose a lot of games there, but we know what to do. We know how we have to play. ‘I would not say it is difficult for us to go there. If we play as we can do, then we will qualify for the next round. ‘Last week was a great win for us. It was important we got the win at home.’ Rodgers is hopeful Olivier Ntcham and Mikael Lustig will be 100 per cent again after illness and injury, respectively, kept them out of Sunday’s stalemate with St Johnstone.