Virgil van Dijk: Fans will boost Celtic v Shakhter

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk insists they can overturn their Champions League deficit against Shakhter Karagandy with the help of their supporters.
Virgil van Dijk. Picture: SNSVirgil van Dijk. Picture: SNS
Virgil van Dijk. Picture: SNS

The Dutchman made his full debut in Kazakhstan and came close with two headers but Celtic found themselves on the end of a shock 2-0 defeat.

However, the 22-year-old refuses to believe they have blown their chance of making the group stages.

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“At Celtic Park anything can happen and we’re definitely still in it,” he told Celtic’s website yesterday.

“We have the fans behind us and that’s the biggest thing for us. It’s not over.

“We created a lot of chances in the first game and had a lot of the ball, but now we have to make sure we do the job at Celtic Park.

“People here give me confidence and we’re all determined and motivated to turn the tie around. We’re going to do everything we can to win the game and the tie.

“We need to keep believing. Every supporter always stands behind us, and I’m sure that’s going to be the case on Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Terry Butcher knows his Scottish Premiership leaders will not get carried away with their status ahead of their clash at Celtic Park tomorrow – because their success this season has been built on hard work.

Caley Thistle have scored six goals without reply to win their opening three matches and comfortably beat last season’s runners-up, Motherwell, to ensure they travelled to face the champions in top spot.

Butcher, whose side won at Celtic Park early last season, said: “There’s a supreme confidence flooding throughout the team but there’s a realisation that, in all three matches we have won, there’s been a lot of hard work and effort that have gone into these games. Whether it be running off the ball, covering, defending, tackling, our boys have worked their socks off and that’s what they have to do on Saturday.

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“But the lads know that. There’s a good understanding and confidence and relaxation about going down there because the boys know what they can do and what they have to do.

“There’s a great belief in the team but there’s a steady belief. We know if we keep on doing what we are doing, trying to penetrate, pass the ball, that we will create chances.

“We have players in the team that can change games and win games on their own and players who can see the game out if we are ahead.”