Positive thinking as Celtic go all guns blazing

Published on Tuesday 25 August 2009 22:16

HAVING been satisfied with his team's performance in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie against Arsenal last week, Tony Mowbray is prepared to approach tonight's rematch in the manner of a team who also achieved a positive result.

Celtic may trail 2-0 from an evening in Glasgow when they found themselves outwitted by both Arsene Wenger's players and Lady Luck, but Mowbray has no interest in seeing them complete their exit from the competition in a blaze of glory.

Instead of chasing a tie in which they are now rank outsiders, Celtic will be instructed by their manager to display the patience and discipline of a team with something to protect.

Mowbray is convinced that if Celtic can score the first goal tonight, no matter at what stage of the game, then Arsenal could start fretting at the prospect of being on the end of a huge upset.

Having guided Celtic to an unprecedented success against Dinamo Moscow in the previous round, the Parkhead club winning a European tie after losing the first leg at home for the first time in their history, Mowbray is now eyeing an even greater achievement.

"Arsenal, with due respect to Dinamo Moscow, are a different proposition," admitted a relaxed Mowbray. "It is really about trying to keep this game as close and tight as we can.

"We have to keep it as nervous as possible for Arsenal. The longer they don't score and we don't feel the tie is beyond us, we will try and follow that gameplan.

"We know they are a better team than us, they have better individuals. They have a hugely more experienced team and hugely more experienced coach. Financially, they are much greater than us. And yet, we can win this football match. Week in, week out, you see results where it is not always the bigger team, with the best players, who win.

"If we played Arsenal 40 times this season, they would win the vast majority of them. But there would be some games we would win and let's hope this is one of those games.

"I genuinely feel that with this group of players we have a chance. If we can get the third goal in this tie then it becomes a proper game, I'd suggest.

"If we get the goal, then it makes you think. It pricks something in you to say, 'Wait a minute, what if Celtic get another goal? What a night it could be'.

"That's the theatre of football. We have to get the balance of not being cavalier, because Arsenal can cut any team to shreds, and at the same time threaten their goal. You have to trust your players at times and we have some very talented players. I have total belief in these players, that they can move and pass the ball around well.

"Once you play through their initial pressure, that's one of the plus points of playing against Arsenal who are always on the front foot. You take a lot of their players out of the game and you are at their defenders. Let's wait and see."

Mowbray insists he has allowed no thoughts of Celtic parachuting into the Europa League to cross his mind. Irrespective of what competition they are in by close of business tonight, however, he feels they should be exempt from the current blaze of criticism surrounding Scottish football.

"I feel disappointed when I hear people saying we have let people down if we lose to Arsenal," he said. "I don't think that's the case. We have a responsibility to compete with them at a very high level. We did that in the first leg, regardless of the result. I don't think we did any harm to Scotland's reputation by getting beat by Arsenal. They had just beaten the team who finished fifth in the Premier League 6-1 away from home.

"With the ball, we were not as good as we would liked to have been in the first leg.

"But the defensive organisation and shape of the team was very good. I was very pleased with them out of possession.

"Every time we play, this football club has a responsibility. First and foremost to its own supporters and the club itself. Secondly, yes it is good for the Scottish game if one of its clubs can do well in Europe.

"But I wouldn't burden our club with sole responsibility of carrying the banner. Rangers have got to do well in Europe this year, hopefully, and we'll see how we do. But everyone knows we drew the most difficult tie that was there for us. Because Arsenal, of all the qualifiers, are a team who could win the Champions League."

Mowbray, meanwhile, shrugged off the irritation expressed by Wenger in the immediate aftermath of the first leg which suggested Celtic's players were guilty of an excessively physical approach.

"I didn't set my team up to go and kick people," said Mowbray. "It's a credit to our players that they competed well on the night. I genuinely don't think it is something which bothers football coaches.

"We do it against every team. From day one, we have tried to play a high pressure game. We try and press the opposition and play high up the pitch. It is something we work on and I don't think you will be seeing anything different."