Rebrov shuns use of all-out hitmen
Sergei Rebrov and Andriy Shevchenko formed one of the deadlies t s t r ike partnerships in Europe at their peak with Dynamo Kiev.
As a manager, however, Rebrov often plays without a recognised striker.
But Celtic’s defence have been warned they will still have to be on their toes against his Ferencvaros side.
Kjartan Finnbogason, who spent three years at Parkhead without making a first-team appearance, spent last season at the Budapest club the Hoops will face in Wednesday’s Champions League second round qualifier.
But the Icelandic international striker’s game time was limited when German Thomas Doll was sacked and replaced by Rebrov, who rarely used a frontman.
Instead, he often deployed false nines and wingers in a fluid shape that has been used by Pep Guardiola at times to good effect at Manchester City.
Ukrainian Rebrov rose to prominence in the 1990s as Shevchenko’s strike partner.
They helped Dynamo Kiev reach the Champions League semi-finals in 1999 before he f lopped after an £ 11million move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Finnbogason didn’t have the best time under him at the Groupama Arena and fancies Neil Lennon’s men to progress
But he’s warned their nippy attackers could exploit a lack of pace in Celtic’s rearguard.
The 34- year- old – now starring for Danish side Vejle
BK – knows it will be a huge step up from last week’s 6- 0 rout of his countrymen KR Reykjavik.
Ferenc va ros defeated Swedish champs Djurgardens 2- 0 and Finnbogason said: “Ferencvaros are a bigger and better team than Reykjavik and will give Celtic a better game.
“But Celtic look solid and are much stronger and if I had to put
“I was signed by Doll but he was sacked four games after my arrival but when I did play it was as a lone striker with a No.10 behind me.
“Then Rebrov arrived and didn’t really like strikers! It’s like he played without them. “He wanted small, quick, players who could create problems on the wings and in between the lines instead of a classic No. 9 like myself. “I suppose it’s a bit like the way Manchester City sometimes play. Rebrov just doesn’t like a target man. He likes small, nippy players who cause problems with their speed. “They have quick, small players who can create things against bigger, slower players which some might say Celtic have in central defence.
“That is the one area they could maybe hurt them but I still expect Celtic to progress.
“Tokmac Nguen scored twice against Djurgardens and he’s a quick little player so they can always cause problems. Rebrov likes his players to have the ball and play a possession game.”
Ferencvaros have only qualified for the group stage of the Champions League once and that was 24 years ago.
This will be just their third meeting against Scottish opposition. They lost 5- 4 on aggregate against Rangers in a European Cup Winners’ Cup preliminary round tie in 1960 before Csaba Laszlo led them to a 1- 0 UEFA Cup win over Hearts 16 years ago.
Finnbogason said: “These are one-off games so any side will believe they have a chance but Celtic had so much energy against KR and were so much better in all aspects.
“This should be more even but individually Celtic have the better players and should go through.
“My time in Budapest was disappointing as I went with big hopes. But Doll was sacked and a new coach wanted to put his stamp on the team.
“When I looked at the line-up against Djurgardens there were only three players from my time – the goalkeeper, Slovenian central defender Miha Blazic and German left-back Marcel Heister – so there’s been a lot of change at the club.”