Uefa Champions League play-off round, second leg
Astana (0) v Celtic (5) (today, 4.30pm, live on BT Sport 2)
BOSS Brendan Rodgers claims complacency is not an issue as Celtic prepare to defend their healthy 5-0 Champions League play-off lead in Astana.
The Hoops took a huge step towards guaranteeing their place in the group stages for the second successive season under the Carnlough man following a first-leg thrashing of the Kazakhstan club at Parkhead last week.
Rodgers will assess Nir Bitton, who has had a protective boot over his foot injury over the last few days – but he is more certain about his side’s ability to stay focused in the Astana Arena today.
“In every single game we play we are always relaxed but focused and there is no change in this game,” he said.
“We are never complacent, we never take anything for granted and that is a daily part of our life.
“When you play for a huge club like Celtic every day you have to prove yourself and in every game, so there is no question of being too complacent.
“My players will be relaxed but always with a focus.
“We worked very well in the first leg but we need to complete the job tomorrow. The first leg is gone, it’s in the past.
“This is a game that you just can’t just discard.
“We had a great result in the first game but we had to work very hard and it will be equally that tomorrow.”
Since a 7-0 defeat against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in September 2016, the Scottish treble-winners have not lost on their European travels against Borussia Monchengladbach, Manchester City, Linfield and Rosenborg.
Moreover, the Scottish champions have not conceded in five European ties this season and Rodgers is keen to keep those records intact.
The former Swansea and Liverpool boss said: “We have a good record since the Barcelona game away from home in Europe so we are looking to add to that.
“We had a good performance against Monchengladbach, drew and should have won the game.
“Manchester City we had a good result and drew and against Rosenborg we won 1-0 so we are growing and developing at this level and we hope we can continue to do that tomorrow.
“So we think of it as 0-0. We are strong in every game we play and we always pick a team to get the best result we can.
“Thus far we haven’t conceded a goal in the qualification phase...in our competitive games we have conceded one goal so far.
“It is a good effort by the players and it epitomises the organisation in the team.
“A lot of focus is on the creativity and style with which the team plays but we have a philosophy in terms of our defensive organisation which is also equal to our attacking idea.
“We take great pride in how we defend, how we press, the togetherness and cohesion in the team because it is all related.
“So all that means we concede few opportunities and then we can defend with the ball as well, our possession is at a higher level, we can defend better with the ball, have longer periods with the ball and in the opponents’ half - and if all that equates to a clean sheet then I would be very, very happy.”
South African club Ajax Cape Town have announced that Celtic have agreed a deal to sign defender Rivaldo Coetzee.
“We are extremely proud to announce an agreement with celticfc , for the sale of defender Rivaldo Coetzee, HAS BEEN CONCLUDED.” said the club’s official Twitter account.
The 20-year old defender, who graduated from the club’s academy, has 23 caps for South Africa and was at one stage the youngest international in his country’s history.
Ajax CT’s official website stated: “Coetzee will join Celtic on a permanent deal, subject to the defender receiving a work permit and completing a medical.
“Everyone at Ajax Cape Town is extremely proud to see one of our own take the next step in their football career and wishes Coetzee all the best in his future endeavours. Good luck and make us proud ‘Riva’.”
