DREAMING OF BAKU
Benkovic excited by potential for a run in Europe as Salzburg showdown looms
IF the small matter of a Salzburg side boasting an unblemished record in the group is not enough to keep Filip Benkovic’s feet firmly on the ground, a list of potential future opponents including the likes of Chelsea, Real Betis and Napoli is the equivalent of strapping on a pair of lead boots.
For so long viewed as the poor relation of UEFA’s club competitions, the Europa League has lately acquired a new-found respect. Plotting a path to the final in Baku on May 29 is presently like navigating a minefield.
Celtic’s rich sense of history, however, dictates that there never will be any ceiling on ambition. Three times European finalists, the day will never dawn when the club views going all the way in a competition as a mere pipe dream.
‘This season we have done very well, especially in the past few months,’ said on-loan defender Benkovic.
‘If we keep going like that, I believe we can do nice things.
‘First, we need to focus on Thursday as it will be a very hard game. But if you want to do something really good, you must do some chasing and believing — dream of big stuff.
‘Of course, you have to be realistic. In the Europa League, there are so many big teams. The likes of Napoli have just come into it so the competition is very hard. So you always have to go step by step.’
For all the Austrian champions arrived in Glasgow yesterday with their place in the last 32 already secure, only a fool would underestimate the scale of the task that awaits Brendan Rodgers’ side tonight.
Champions of their own country for the past five seasons and presently well on course for a sixth crown, Salzburg, semi-finalists in this competition last year, simply do not do third gear.
Having smashed five past Kilmarnock at the weekend and only requiring a share of the spoils tonight to progress, Celtic are also in a very good place.
For that to continue, however, any notion they will face a side already slipping into winter-break mode cannot be entertained.
‘In this game we only need a point or a win, but we are always going for a win in every game,’ Benkovic insisted. ‘It will be the same in this one. It is not good to go only for a point because you relax too much.
‘During the last few months we have been going better and better and we will try to keep going until the end of December. We want to keep improving.’
It is a scenario Celtic would have taken at the start of the section and certainly after back-to-back losses in Salzburg and Leipzig. Working on the assumption that the Germans beat Rosenborg, a solitary point for the Scots will be enough to render that result irrelevant. If professional pride and the chance to earn maximum points are not sufficient incentives for the Austrians, those seeing conspiracy around every corner will cite another in the form of the chance to do their associated club a major turn.
‘Before you said that, I did not think about that,’ Benkovic replied. ‘We can only look at ourselves and how we will play. We just focus on that game.’
It promises to be a night for the ages. A half-empty shell on such nights under Ronny Deila, Celtic Park was a riot of noise and colour as Rodgers’ side beat Leipzig last month.
‘Before that, I had played maybe only a few games in Croatia with an atmosphere like that,’ Benkovic recalled. ‘But here it is almost every game. If you play football, you enjoy that. It gives you strength, it gives you power.’
Presently in an unassailable position at the head of their own Europa League section, Benkovic’s former club Dinamo Zagreb would be another potential opponent if Celtic can come up with the desired result.
‘Zagreb are top of the table so even if they lose, they are first,’ he said. ‘So they are going good in Europe. I am happy for them.
‘Everything is possible. We must get through this group. After that game we can think about that. But it would be special, you know.’
Benkovic has been good for Celtic on his loan spell so far, but the club has also been good for him. ‘I like this style of play here,’ he explained. ‘It’s something new for me. It will help me in the future. I like the challenges here. This week is a big challenge.’
The company of Jozo Simunovic, both on and off the field, has added to his enjoyment of life in Glasgow. Nikola Katic may be a professional rival but the Rangers defender has also been an occasional social companion.
‘Sometimes, yes,’ Benkovic said. ‘He’s also alone here. Me and Jozo sometimes meet up with him. ‘We’ve played in the (Under-21) national team together.’