MIROSLAV RADOVIC has vowed to ruin Celtic's hopes of a straightforward Champions League trip to Ireland, and insisted that Legia Warsaw are more than capable of knocking the SPFL Premiership champions out of Europe should both sides progress to the third qualifying round.
Radovic spared the Polish club's blushes against St Patrick's Athletic in the Wojska Polskiego Stadium on Wednesday by scoring in injury time to salvage a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie.
John Collins, the Celtic assistant manager, cites logistical issues as the primary reason the Parkhead side - 1-0 up on KR Reykjavik of Iceland ahead of Tuesday's return at Murrayfield - would prefer St Patrick's go on to complete victory and set up a meeting with them in the next round. But Radovic insists Legia will avenge the embarrassment of being held at home by the Dublin club when they travel to the Tallaght Stadium next week and prove they will be a match for Ronny Deila's team.
"I'm sure, on Wednesday, that we will beat the Irish and go through," said the Serb. "If we play Celtic, I'll be really happy. It's a big club and the fans will watch two interesting games. We won't be without any chance. Maybe the name of the club is impressive, but the team is within our reach. For now, though, I am focused on gaining revenge against St Patrick's. We must play well to make people forget about the first shameful game in Warsaw."
Collins believes Legia remain the side more likely to progress despite the first-leg result, but concedes that the travelling arrangements involved in making the short hop to Dublin have him hoping the luck of the Irish comes through on the night.
"[Legia] should be favourites," he said. "I believe they've spent a lot of money and they're a big club, but St Pat's must feel they have a good chance of going through. I think it is a good draw, but we'd prefer to play in Ireland. It is closer; less travelling."
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