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Celtic Diary Thursday February 26: We Can Do This

Celtic face Inter Milan in the second leg of the Europa League tie tonight in the San Siro, and with a bit of luck and a bit of effort, this team hs every chance of pulling off a great result.

Well, when I say a bit of luck and a bit of effort what I mean is complete concentration and everyone playing to the best of their abilities. Same thing , really.

Manager Ronny Deila was realistic;

“We have a good chance as we are in good shape now and have good confidence. We have everything to win now. We just have to go out there and give everything and be even better organised than we were the last time, and then we will have a chance.

“We can’t concede three goals again, and it’s important we defend well, and hopefully we can keep a clean sheet as that will give us the best chance of going through. 

“But we have also shown we are capable of scoring a lot of goals and hopefully we can get one more than our opponent.

“Inter have been doing well lately and I saw that in the game against Palermo and the game on Monday against Cagliari.

“They are in good shape and we meet them at a good time for them, but the game at Celtic Park and their game against Cagliari show that it’s possible to create chances against them, and if we do that we have a good chance. Their biggest threat is their offence so we need to stop their strikers getting chances. 

We need to defend well. We have to be compact and disciplined, especially at the start of the game, and we have to be clinical when we get our chances.”  

The bit in bold is the important part. Bhoys can become men tonight, and begin their own chapter in Celtics history.

But Ronny can only do so much. He can prepare them, motivate them, but he can’t play the game for them. Scott Brown needs to play the game of his life tonight. If he does what he does best then we are definitely in with a shout.

Gary Mackay Steven stopped grinning long enough to tell a press conference;

“It [San Siro] is an iconic stadium and Inter Milan are a massive club, but so are Celtic”

“We’re here not to be tourists but to do a job, and that’s to get a result. The first leg was good in a lot of ways but I feel there’s a lot to come from us as a team as well so it’s exciting.

“Tomorrow night will be a very difficult test for us but we go into the game with confidence.

“If we can cut out errors and not give them too much space we can create chances ourselves, so there’s no reason why we can’t go into the game thinking we can win it.” 

From that, it appears that the players know what went wrong in the first game, and are completely aware of what they can do to put it right.

The players are ready. The supporters are ready.

And the press are right behind the team;

Three good reasons…

why Celtic are in for a mauling in Milan

Ah, the Record. Wonder if they’ll have a bus over there like they did in Seville.

CELTIC take on a £60million team of superstars at the San Siro tomorrow night looking for their first ever win on Italian soil and we have three good reasons why their Europa League adventure is all but over. 

 

WE have looked at the positives and why Celtic have more than a fighting chance against Internazionale tomorrow night but there is no denying the odds are stacked against the Scottish champions. 

Fair enough. We’ve conceded three away goals. We need a win.

The Italians have not lost a game in Europe this season, their side cost some £60million more than Celtic’s to assemble and they will include at least four players in their starting XI who were signed for more than £10m. 

 On that logic, Manchester City will be certs to overcome Barcelona.

And here are three other good reasons why Celtic’s Europa League adventure ends tomorrow night. 

Aye, hope springs eternal, eh, big man ?

1 You don’t have to work for your goals against Celtic 

People have spoken about Ronny Deila’s attacking philosophy and how open his team is, but when you look at the goals conceded – particularly last week v Inter – you will see a catalogue of individual errors. This Celtic defence – last week Izaguirre, Matthews and van Dijk were all guilty parties – has a habit of switching off completely and will gift Inter at least one good chance tomorrow night through a sloppy pass or a lazy clearance. And as the Italians proved in Glasgow, they will take them. 

So, a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes are actually a habit ?

2 The Bhoys don’t like the San Siro 

You could argue that talk of hoodoos and superstitions are simply excuses for simpletons, but the fact is Celtic have a rotten record in Milan. Seven times they have gone to the San Siro now and the best they have managed are a couple of 0-0 draw back in the Sixties and Seventies. In fact, Celtic have yet to win in 11 visits to Italy. Their record reads – D3 L8. 

Its  a little unfair to say the players don’t like the San Siro because previous line ups faltered over there. Against a different team.

In fact, Celtic have played Inter once before in the San Siro. It was 0-0.

Also in fact, Inter have never beaten Celtic over ninety minutes.

Also Also in fact, something else in our favour is the number of players in the squad who have experience of the venue, if not the opponents. This was the line up against Milan in 2013, a game Celtic lost by two late goals

Celtic

  • 01 Forster
  • 02 Matthews (Boerrigter – 75′ )
  • 03 Izaguirre
  • 04 Ambrose Booked
  • 05 van Dijk
  • 21 Mulgrew Booked (Biton – 89′ )
  • 23 Lustig
  • 08 Brown Booked
  • 15 Commons (Pukki – 77′ )
  • 09 Samaras
  • 10 Stokes

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska
  • 06 Biton
  • 18 Rogic
  • 46 McGeouch
  • 11 Boerrigter
  • 17 Balde
  • 20 Pukki   

and heres a wee snippet from the BBCs take on that game;

Led by the industry and composure of captain Scott Brown, Celtic matched the seven-time European Cup winners for most of the game and had chances to take the lead at the San Siro.

From an indirect free-kick, Charlie Mulgrew’s shot from 10 yards out was charged down by a cluster of defenders racing from the goal-line.

Samaras hammered a shot narrowly wide, Brown was denied a clear run of goal by a brilliant Nigel de Jong tackle and Stokes found the junction of post and crossbar with a lovely free-kick just a few minutes before the deadlock was broken.

Defenders Efe Ambrose and Virgil van Dijk were as imposing as the snow-capped mountains that border the city, doing a wonderful job of protecting Forster, although the goalkeeper made his own contribution  

3 Home comforts for Inter 

Internazionale have not lost a European game at the San Siro for nearly three years, a 2-0 loss to HNK Hajduk Split in August 2012. Celtic will also miss their fans at the San Siro tomorrow night and even if there is a packed away end and a poor turn out from the Inter fans, the cavernous San Siro is not conducive to a good atmosphere 

So, Hadjuk Split can go there and win, we can’t , and the San Siro has a terrible atmosphere.

Knows his stuff, this guy.

Gregor Kyle is the author of that piece, though if I was him, I wouldn’t admit it.

In fairness to him, he had also done a “three reasons why Celtic will win”  piece, but unsurprisingly, its equally lightweight and ill informed.

The three reasons are that Celtic can score goals away from home, the two Dundee Utd lads have settled in well, and Craig Gordon is a good keeper.

 Perhaps Stan Collymore was wrong when he said Scottish journalists were fundamentally corrupt.

 Perhaps he just meant they were shite.

 Anyway, the first article, which is about why Celtic will get a ” mauling ” should be pinned up on the dressing room wall, perhaps even in a glass case, with the instructions ” In case of emergency , break glass, and use this to wipe your arse. “

 A “mauling ” . Not a defeat, mind.

A more intelligent assessment of the game comes from SempreInter;

Inter host Celtic in the Europa league last 32 in what promises to be a spectacular 2nd leg after an equally spectacular 3-3 draw in Glasgow last week.

Inter only need a draw of 2 goals or less in order to qualify for the next round and are seen as slight favourites for this game but this is Inter we’re talking about and we shouldn’t take this match for granted.

Especially when we look at how our defence performed in the 1st leg.

On current league form Celtic sit top of the Scottish Premiership by 3 points after they beat Hamilton 4-0 on Sunday.

Inter have risen to 8th in Serie A having won their last 3 league matches, scoring 9 goals in the process.

Here is the probable line-up according to GDS.

Juan Pablo Carrizo will keep his place in the team as Samir Handanovic has just returned after a bruised foot in training.

In defence Inter have Danilo D’Ambrosio and Marco Andreolli back from injury but only D’Ambrosio is seen as starting the game, at right back in place of Hugo Campagnaro.

In central defence Andrea Ranocchia is expected to return after being rested against Cagliari, in place of Nemanja Vidic who had a solid game on Monday. Ranocchia’s partner in defence will be Juan Jesus. 

At left back will be Davide Santon who is our best full back since the days of Maicon.

Yuto Nagatomo, Jonathan and Dodo are all injured.

In midfield Marcelo Brozovic is cup tied so Zdravko Kuzmanovic will start in his place ahead of Hernanes, who has been pushing for a start. Alongside Kuzmanovic will be the ever reliable Gary Medel and the in-form Fredy Guarin.

Xherdan Shaqiri is expected to start in the trequartista position ahead of Mateo Kovacic despite the Croatian International putting in a man of the match performance against Cagliari.

Up top Mauro Icardi starts alongside Rodrigo Palacio, who was rested at Cagliari, in place of Lukas Podolski who isn’t eligible to play in the Europa League.

Probable Inter line-up(subject to change): (4-3-1-2) Carrizo, D’Ambrosio, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Santon, Guarin, Medel, Kuzmanovic, Shaqiri, Icardi, Palacio.

Bench: Handanovic, Berni, Andreolli, Campagnaro, Vidic, Kovacic, Obi, Hernanes, Puscas.    

So, we may never have won on Italin soil, but theres a first time for everything, and today could well be that day.

As far as I’m concerned, we have a chance. The game is a bonus, and all the pressure will be on the home team.

More importantly, when this Celtic side plays the way they can, at the pace they can, Inter struggle. Get through the opening stages of the game without conceding, and the confidence throughout the side will grow.

Gordon, Matthews, Izaguerre, Denaayer, van Dijk, Brown, Bitton, Commons, Johansen, Armstrong Guidetti to start, with any three from Henderson, Mackay Steven, Ambrose and Griffiths to play a part from the bench, depending on how the game goes.

We have players who can nick a goal, and we have players who can stop the other team from nicking a goal.

If everyone does what they are supposed to do, then we will get the result we need. Inter don’t have another level from last weeks game.

We do.

Its called heart.

ronny roar2

 

Image result for come on the hoops celtic

 

Come on the Hoops.

 

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Monti
9 years ago

‘mon the Hoops!
Just give us a performance to be proud of, win,lose or draw!

9 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Exactly Monti!

9 years ago

I think we’re up against it if Jesus is on their side!

Monti
9 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Jesus is on all our sides Desi,but first we need to accept him!!

9 years ago

If we pumped Inter 6-0 tonight the HUN press in BIGOTLAND, sorry i mean Scotland, no Fuk it il stick with BIGOTLAND, would only declare that it’s the worse Inter side in decades, ce

dziekanowski's nightclub child
9 years ago

M’on the hoops! I can’t wait for the game tonight, as long as they go out there and perform I will be happy.

9 years ago

If we pumped Inter 6-0 tonight the HUN press in BIGOTLAND, sorry i mean Scotland, no Fuk it il stick with BIGOTLAND, would only declare that it’s the worse Inter side in decades, CELTIC are the sole representative of Scottish football left in Europe, AGAIN!!, the further we go the better both financialy and by way of coefficient points it is for Scottish football as a whole yet the scum MSM/ SEVCO SYMPATHIZERS and every other govan tramp won’t us mauled asap, sometimes i despair at what Scotland is and will remain until the gutter Klan are finally put to rest…HAIL HAIL, COYBIG

Dresden
9 years ago

Glass half full…….C’mon you boys in Green!

Lets make the San Siro Green and White, not just Glasgow!!!

Glass half empty…..As long as we don’t get pumped, I’ll be happy enough!

HoudiniBhoy
9 years ago

We know we can’t win with the SMSM but as the song goes “We don’t care what the animals say…” Their words mean nothing and win, lose or draw we’re on a hiding to nothing.

Win – Worst Inter team ever
Lose – Deila not up to the job
Draw (3-3 or less) – Defence not up to standard
Draw (4-4 or more) – Papist conspiracy, Deila not good enough, defence dodgy and scraped through the worst Inter team ever.

Win, lose or draw and proud showing tonight will show all Celtic fans this long term plan of Ronnie’s is taking effect and that we will only get better.

Armageddon my arse!!

Travellinbhoy
9 years ago

Think we will concede but also think we’ll score. Got a feeling we’ll do it but if not, let’s go doon fighting, that’s all we can ask.
COYBIG.

Travellinbhoy
9 years ago

HoudiniBhoy
The smsm are hoping we get a right bleaching so they can say we’re only good enough in scotland. If and its a tall order to win over there,we win, it will crush them with hurting hunness.
A pass and move, high tempo, high pressing Celtic team is not what they want to see and certainly not a winning one.
It makes their favourite teams climb back to the top so much more difficult and we can’t have that.
If we get the Ronnie Roar tonight I’ll be oan the ceiling.

Nick
9 years ago

Gregor Kyle is a Tim, in fact he used to work for Celtic.

Half_Fool
9 years ago
Reply to  Nick

It surprises me that Gregor has joined that rag for harlots.

9 years ago

I will be happy with a good solid performance, win lose or draw, our time is on the Horizon for sure. A good victory on Sunday and then beat dundee united in the first two games and the treble is well and truly on. Next year we will make our mark on the champions league HH

Mike Bhoyle
9 years ago

So many things to write…so little time.
This is an awkward one for RD tonight inasmuch as….
Our game is based on …possession..pressing..passing…and a Gung Ho approach…and domestically..most times..it works.
But what does he do tonight…?
Park the bus…and hit on the break…?
Pretend that Inter are Hamilton Accies (no offence Accies)…
and try and run them ragged.?
Or will Inter bring the game to us and put us on the back foot anyway?
As Monti says…Just give us a performance which leaves us with no regrets…
That’s the main thing for me.

Monti
9 years ago

When the draw paired us with Inter I thought that we wouldn’t get past them, I still think the same.
However football is about dreams and during the days of the old board and watching teams with Wayne Bigging in it, I didn’t think I would have been lying in a pool in San Sebastian Seville with my Hoops on, surrounded by tens of thousands of happy Hoops.
From time to time good things happen to Celtic, here’s hoping tonight’s the night.
The most important thing for me is if we are to go out tonight, leave the Inter players and fans with a performance that surprises them, let’s push them and give everything!

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Right with you on that Monti.
If we go out we go down swinging and connecting 😉

Monti
9 years ago

See on the subject of this sectarian singing carry on, deduct the points, problem will be solved overnight…it really is that simple.

Mike Bhoyle
9 years ago
Reply to  Monti

We are in danger of being brought into that scenario as well Monti.
Some of our songs from “Across the water” will drop us right in it…they are regarded as Sectarian..whether we like it or not.
Or did you mean us as well…?

Monti
9 years ago
Reply to  Mike Bhoyle

It has to be across the board m8, but they need to define what exactly is sectarian.

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago

Excellent stuff again Ralph the hypocrisy knows kn bounds within the MSM.
Arsholes one and all with a few exceptions of course.

It’s a tough ask tonight but after the recent run, the comeback at Celtic Park from possible disaster and the subsequent average display at Cagliari on Monday night I think we go into this confident but wary.

Deila seems to be pushing this idea too which is great.

Keep a solid display at the back a big efffort in the middle then I think our Attack will have Mancini more than a wee bit concerened we opened them up easily at times in Paradise this won’t be lost on him I don’t think.

Who know they might revert to type and try defend a lead?

Best scenario is we strike first then it’s anyones.

Mike Bhoyle
9 years ago

Meant to say…
I was at the original 2-1 victory…and go for that again tonight.
Slight difference between then and now..?
Now I’m a Pensioner…who’ll watch it in the Pub.
‘Nuff said.
‘Mon The Sellik.

holy sea
9 years ago

Our players are very bullish.They are confident not arrogant.The pressure is all on Inter.Can we do a Monaco ? Why not.I wasn’t confident after first leg.I had the sheep and the Treble in my sights.However,something tells me,we are in for a night of drama.This will not be a boring game.
I see quite a few goals.Can we score one more than Inter? Let the battle commence…

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

I think the comeback display and the fact we scored 3 good goals through endevour and good attacking play has ensured we have a bit of confidence going into this Holy.
They toiled against Cagliari on Monday and were lucky to come out with a win.
Perhaps lady luck will go Awol for them tonight 😉

stu67
9 years ago

“Mon The Celtic ” Do it for us !!!!

Monti
9 years ago

Imagine only having an EGM to look forward to?

Stupid, Stupid Huns!

Devoy45
9 years ago

I can’t see us keeping a clean sheet but I can’t see this Inter team keeping a clean sheet either. We just need one more goal so it almost has to be
2-1 to the Bhoys.
If we don’t get through, let’s be remembered for a brave performance.
Let’s also hope for strong reffing in the face of the usual diving, cheating, dramatics and time wasting which pass for “flair” in Italy. Italian food/wine/women/art/countryside all excellent but their footballers are over-rated and we can take them— so why not now?
Commons could be the key.

liatroimbhoy
9 years ago

Would love to win tonight but will more than settle for a good performance; one that confirms once again that we are on the right road.

Regardless of what happens, PLEASE keep it in perspective bhoys! We wont have suddenly become sh1te again if we lose, we won’t suddenly be world beaters if we win. Tonight will only be 90 minutes – approximately 1/50th give or take – of a season long story

Beir bua!

Half_Fool
9 years ago

Cannot wait. My heart and mind are already in the zone for this.
Hope the Bhoys get a couple of goals.

Celtic, Celtic on to Victory!

9 years ago

Ralph

It has been a real joy reading The Diary and the comments today. It is hard to remember when our supporters were last so optimistic but, more importantly, realistically enlightened. What is at stake tonight is not sot much our progress in Europe or even our potential to win the treble. Rather, it is our reputation, a growing reputation for success marinated over a slow start to the season and seasoned in an entertaining style prepared assiduously by our master chef Ronny. It is this sporting haute cuisine that matters tonight. The trimmings are mere presentation, adding little or nothing to the flavour. If the Italian menu turns out to be better, that is acceptable as long as the Celtic courses are professional, taste delicious and make us want more. Personal taste may dictate who enjoys what is on the plate but all of us have to concede the vastly more expensive cuisine of Milan may prove far superior on the night to the delicacies of Glasgow, but, as long as the Celtic food is palatable, we can stand proudly before the rest of Scotland, including the hostiles in the press, the T.V. and in Glasgow South, and prove we are by far the best on offer in Scottish football. So, Celtic, serve up nothing but your best dish tonight and I for one will be a contented diner.

And now, for the second Thursday in a row, I have to get ready to go out as once again I am committed to attending a meeting till 7.30pm by which time the game will be almost over. By the time I get home it most certainly will be. Have you ever been desperate to see the score yet terrified at the same time. If you have and if you are feeling sorry for yourself by 8pm, please spare a thought for an old man who has probably developed suicidal tendencies. Someone ought to check flights to Switzerland just in case though do not make assumptions if I fail to comment tomorrow. That could simply be down to a soar head.

H H

Honest Hoops
9 years ago

That ref is incompetent compared to last weeks who was fair with both teams, this ref has spoiled a potential great tie!!!!

C’mon the hoops…..

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago

Well that’s the Euro stuff done for another Year.
Although very disappointed with the outcome of the tie conceding 3 away goals was always going to be an Issue regardless of how well we played tonight.
The sending off In my opinion killed the tie as a contest stone dead.
The fact he booked Van Dijk for that first tackle was beyond comprehension he’s putting that particular tackle in for 2 seasons with no comeback until tonight.

Absolutely awful decision.

The second was soft but it was a card no qualms there from me.
We perforemd well after the shock of the sending off we defended like the team under Lenny resorted back to the siege mentality and kept them at bay till a moments true magic.
My only concern was both Fullbacks constantly coming in leaving acres of space for them to run into.
Particularly Matthews who at times seems to forget he’s a FB I think.
Izzy was better he kept one of Europes up and coming talents quiet for most of the game and snuffed out the bulk of his threat.
We go out heads held high we did not go out in disgrace on the back of a spanking.
That in my opinion is progress we have shown a fighting side to this teams character to go along with the brave and hungry aspects too.
Bodes well for next Seasons tilt I think in the Big League.

Franco Baresi
9 years ago

Charlie, I am still not with you on the Ronnie love in! Wwhy bring on Forrest when you have Commons (granted you dont like him!) Forrest done absolutely nothing, Commons on for 12 mins and had a shot straight away. We cant defend in Europe and Ronnie doesn’t seem to know how to coach that. So we were unlucky that the ref was bad, but should have went with 3 at the back and pushed on after half time. Still not convinced but concede he needs time. At £2.3m Scepovic after knocking us back remember is a shocking signing!

Monti
9 years ago
Reply to  Franco Baresi

” And if you know the history,
It’s enough to make your heart go, fuck the Rangers”
Proud of the Bhoys tonight, treble time now!

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  Franco Baresi

I hink he thought our only chance was to hit them on the counter.
To do that we needed pace up top.

Forrest has pace Commons simply doesn’t.

The problem was not the set up, the Substitutions or the fact Van Dijk made an idiotic decision to foul the attacker whilst on a card.
The problem was the 3 soft goals last week.

3 errors outwith Deilas control.

Commons is fine by me so long as he plays the way Deila demands he plays.
Which I am happy to say he is now doing.

thewildgoose
9 years ago

The game was up soon as that wanker of a ref sent VVD off, until that point i thought we had made a steady start and wete starting to hold our own. Got to give the players credit for battling on and restricting Inter to one wonder goal two minutes from time. Big Biton gets better and better every time i see him play and would be one of the first names on my teamsheet.. Lets smash this mob on Sunday, time to put the sheep back in their pens.

9 years ago

Has the Guidetti love in finished yet?
He did absolutely nothing tonight apart from 2 ridiculous dives.
Time to give Scepovic as many chances as Guidetti’s had.

Doc
9 years ago
Reply to  andy docherty

Inter could have whipped a chib out and we still wouldn’t have got an indirect free kick.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  andy docherty

Sorry Andy,
Scepovic is a reincarnation of Pukki and Balde.
Will be off hire in the summer.He’s not getting his chance,as he is duff in training.Simples!

DuckyBhoy
9 years ago

The ref was absolutely atrocious. Neither of VVD’s yellows were a booking in my opinion and i personally think Armstrong should of had a penalty. I saw an interesting stat at full time, we ‘committed’ 21 fouls, whereas inter committed 5. The bastards were diving every time they were breathed on. They will be found out in the last 16. Anyway rant over. Now focus on Sunday and lets get the treble.

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