Tel-Aviv in Glasgow to finish the job off

Published on Tuesday 1 December 2009 21:34

HAPOEL Tel Aviv manager Eli Gutman hopes to learn about the exploits of Celtic legend Jock Stein as he prepares to dump the Parkhead club out of the Europa League in their penultimate Group C clash in Glasgow tonight.

The Israeli side, top of the section with nine points from four games, turned up for training last night at Celtic Park knowing one point almost certainly guarantees his side qualification into the knockout stages of the tournament.

Ahead of the press conference in the Jock Stein lounge, Gutman had his photograph taken beside a portrait of the former Celtic manager, who took the club to their famous 1967 European Cup final win against Inter Milan in Lisbon, thus becoming the first British side to win the trophy.

Stein cemented his legendary status at the club by guiding them to another European Cup final in 1970 and nine Scottish championship wins in succession, among numerous other trophy wins.

Asked what Stein meant to him Gutman, replied: "The nice photographer asked me to make the picture but to tell you the truth, I don't know a lot. But I will be happy to learn. Celtic are a big club, with tradition and good players. The second 45 minutes when we played them in Tel Aviv in the first game in the section changed things, we pushed and finally won the game 2-1.

"Let's pass over the game in Hamburg, where we lost, but the two games against Rapid Vienna were excellent, not only the results but the performances were very good. If we get a good result tomorrow night then it will mean a lot to our club."

After beating Celtic 2-1, Hapoel then lost 4-2 away to Hamburg. However, home and away wins over Rapid Vienna, 5-1 in Tel Aviv and 3-0 in Austria, leaves the Israeli side in the driving seat ahead of tonight's game.

Gutman added: "We came here to complete the job and qualify. We are expecting to play our game and if we play our game then hopefully we will score. We know exactly what to expect.

"We know the British culture, we know what the reaction of the fans will be.

We have achieved good results and will strive to achieve another good result."