Chris Sutton has told the current crop of Celtic players that they need courage and belief if they are to cause any ripples in the formidable Allianz Arena this evening. Brendan Rodgers’ side go into their third game in Group B against Bayern Munich with the anticipation being they will find the night every bit as tough as they did in their opening game against PSG.
Sutton, though, has warned Rodgers’ side that they cannot afford to be as insipid against the Bundesliga side as they were against the Frenchmen.
Read more: Stewart Fisher: Why can't Brendan Rodgers manage Scotland as well as Celtic?
“I just thought that, in the PSG game, they lacked courage on the ball,” said Sutton , who was speaking at the SPFL Betfred League Cup media day. “We can talk about how good PSG were. But they overwhelmed Celtic. And Bayern will do the same, push in on the wingers, go man for man and press Celtic high. So, when Celtic get the ball, they have to be courageous. But if you’re a Celtic player it is one of those where they have to feel they have nothing to lose. That’s the best way to approach it.”
Celtic’s win against Anderlecht in their previous outing in the Champions League has given them the initiative when it comes to securing a European place beyond the Christmas festivities. That gives the Parkhead side a certain assurance going into their remaining games in the group but so far as Sutton is concerned, Rodgers will have the Celtic players cultivating a higher ambition.
“When you saw the group drawn, we all thought PSG and Bayern would hold the first two spots in the group – and Anderlecht would be rivals for European football after Christmas,” said Sutton. “But, if you’re a Celtic player going into this game, it’s a bit of what if moment. What if you can get the result that makes all the difference to your European hopes? They’ll need everyone to play well and Bayern to have an off night. They may also need a bit of luck and the goalkeeper will need to play well. But you cannot rule out Celtic scoring a goal. With the likes of Leigh Griffiths, Patrick Roberts and Scott Sinclair, they do carry a threat.”
Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Jozo Simunovic are all expected to be fit for tonight’s game with the Celtic captain’s return particularly influential. The signs would appear to point to Leigh Griffiths maintain the striker’s role although Sutton himself voiced a belief that he may be tempted to go with Moussa Dembele, despite the lack of game time for the French forward.
“It’s important that Scott Brown comes back into the team. I don’t think that Celtic are the same team without him in it,” said Sutton. “The problem Celtic had against PSG is they weren’t brave enough on the ball at all. I would like to see Tom Rogic start in Munich. He didn’t start against PSG, Brendan went for Olivier Ntcham, Armstrong and Brown. And it’s an interesting one. I thought that they missed Dembele against PSG in terms of someone to hit and getting up the pitch.
“But I don’t think he will start in Munich. He was important last year in European competition. It’s not a criticism of Leigh Griffiths but when the wingers were taken care of they didn’t have anyone to hit. I think he’s played a couple of Under-21 games. I was surprised he didn’t start on the weekend. With the amount of changes it might have been wise to give him a runout.
“I think Leigh will start but Celtic need to get up the pitch and that will be their biggest problem in Munich. You know, it’s not impossible for Celtic to get a result in Munich.
“But it is highly unlikely, which is purely down to the strength of the Bayern team.”
Sutton appreciates only too well what it is like to leave Munich with regret. The Hoops striker was part of Martin O’Neill’s 2003 side who gave a strong account of themselves against Bayern after Alan Thompson had given them an unlikely lead. Their capitulation in the final minutes as late goals from Roy Makaay is unequivocally laid at the foot of former Celtic goalkeeper Magnus Hedman’s door according to his former colleague, with the harrowing dressing room aftermath still fresh in the mind of the striker.
“He got absolutely hairdryered after the game. I actually felt sorry for him – for about five seconds. Martin O’Neill went at him,” revealed Sutton. “Oh, it was his fault. In the dressing room afterwards, we are all human. We all felt sorry for Magnus. But, when he went in the shower, we all blamed him! That’s the sort of thing that happens in football. It was a game where we went over to play one of the super clubs – and we felt it was achievable to get a result. We all let it slip away, all of us. So it was a huge disappointment. We certainly should have held on for a draw.”
BT Sport is where the best go head to head. Watch Bayern Munich v Celtic exclusively live in the UEFA Champions League on BT Sport ESPN from 7pm on Wednesday 18th October/tonight.
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