Jozo Simunovic claims that Celtic aren’t scared of anyone ahead of their crunch Champions League tie with Borussia Monchengladbach this Wednesday.
The central defender will have tougher assignments in a Celtic jersey than dealing with the fleeting problems caused by Motherwell’s attack on Saturday, and he is hoping that an opportunity to prove he can handle the step up in opposition presents itself in just a couple of days’ time.
Although it is far from certain that the young Croat will fill what is likely to be the one place up for grabs in central defence beside Kolo Toure, his demeanour after he had been part of a largely routine win over Mark McGhee’s men suggested he wouldn’t be daunted in the slightest by the prospect of keeping a check on Andre Hahn and co.
Read more: Neil Cameron: This could be the most surreal European campaign in the history of Celtic
Borussia coach Andre Schubert paid due deference to the intimidating atmosphere created at Celtic Park after his men played out a disappointing goalless draw at home to Hamburg at the weekend. For Simunovic, the fans not only serve to scare the opposition, but imbue the Celtic players with an unshakeable belief that in their own back yard, they need fear absolutely no one.
"Will Borussia be scared? I haven't even thought about them,” said a steely-eyed Simunovic. “I just think about our team and the Celtic fans.
"What I can say is that we are not afraid of anybody, especially at home. We believe in ourselves and we can't wait for the start of the match. We are very positive about Wednesday.
Read more: Neil Cameron: This could be the most surreal European campaign in the history of Celtic
"I can't wait. I don't know whether I will play or not, but it's about the team. No matter who the manager picks, I know they will give their all.
"We pressed high against Man City and we will try to do that again. We need to believe in how we play. I am very confident about the game against Borussia.
"I don't know much about Borussia, I have never played against them, but it's about us. We don't need to focus on the other team, we need to focus on our own game and give 150 per cent.
"We have good attacking players and that gives us confidence. We need to believe that we can win.
"We are also at home and with the fans behind us, with the amazing atmosphere inside the stadium, we have a good chance.
"This is a big game but that's always the case. We need to treat this like the biggest game and be ready to give everything.”
Brendan Rodgers resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes as a Scott Sinclair goal in the first half and a late penalty from Moussa Dembele saw off a spirited Motherwell, but the Celtic players who took part in the game should still have plenty left in the tank as they won the game without ever really needing to click into top gear.
It is to be expected that the side who finished fourth in last season’s Bundesliga will provide Celtic with a rather stiffer examination, but it is one that Simunovic and his teammates are relishing.
"It was a good performance against Motherwell,” said Simunovic. “We did everything that we said we would before the game.
"That was the most important thing and we got the two goals. It was a good win and now we focus on Borussia on Wednesday night.
"That is an important game for us and our Champions League hopes. We know it will be a harder game but we are 150 per cent ready and we can't wait for this game.”
Simunovic has had an injury-ravaged career with Celtic so far, and when a prospective move to Torino fell through at the last minute his future as a first-team player at the club looked to be in some doubt.
It may just be though that the 22-year-old is about to fulfil his undoubted potential in the green and white hoops.
"Torino is finished,” he said. “That story is over for me. I am only focused on Celtic.
"It's been a tough year for me. It was a tough period in my career but I used the time carefully. I focused on my fitness and my head. Now I am ready.
"It would mean a lot to play in the Champions League for this club because I didn't get the chance to do that last season.
"It's been fantastic working under the manager. We are getting on very well and everybody is enjoying it.
"I am fit and ready to play the most important thing is that we are all ready and that we are going to give everything. “
For Motherwell, the next week is a slightly more humdrum affair with a free weekend coming up before they face Inverness at home next Wednesday night.
Read more: Neil Cameron: This could be the most surreal European campaign in the history of Celtic
Despite the defeat here though, they will be buoyed by the manner of their display, particularly after shipping 12 goals in their previous two visits to Celtic Park.
Goalkeeper Craig Samson, who was excellent despite conceding the late penalty to Dembele, even felt his side were a shade unfortunate to leave Glasgow empty-handed.
“We had a gameplan we had worked on during the week,” he said. “I thought it worked pretty well. We frustrated them and caused them problems.
“It was maybe unfortunate we didn’t take something from the game. Yes, Celtic dominated possession and had more chances than us but that is something that will happen here a lot of the time. We had a couple of wee chances where we might have got something but it wasn’t to be.”
Another positive for Motherwell was the performances of Jack McMillan and Ross McLean, two teenagers who were handed quite the baptism of fire on their first starts for the club. 17-year-old Jake Hastie and young David Ferguson were on too before the end, and Samson praised the starlets for the way they handled the occasion.
“The young kids who came into the team were different class,” he said.
“It is a credit to them that they could come into a match like this and do so well. They weren’t fazed by it. Sometimes this can be the best place to get thrown in, in a big stadium against the team at the top of the league.
“You go in with no fear because you are not under any pressure. I thought the boys were brilliant and they deserve all the credit they get.”
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