FORMER Celtic star Scott McDonald insists the Hoops must turn in their best EVER European display under Brendan Rodgers to keep their Champions League dream alive in Greece.
The Scotish champions travel to Athens next week knowing they must find the net at least once following a frustrating 1-1 draw against 10-man AEK at Parkhead.
Callum McGregor looked to have set the hosts on the road to the playoff round when he smashed home a deserved opener on Wednesday night, capping a fine start by Rodgers’ side, who continued to dominate for the first 40 minutes.
But Viktor Klonaridis benefited from some woeful Celtic defending on the cusp of half-time to rattle home the crucial away goal, before they belied Konstantinis Galanopoulos’ dismissal to hold on for a draw after the break.
And McDonald, who reached the last-16 of the Champions League with Celtic in 2012/13, is under no illusions about the task now facing his old club.
“I think they will need to give their best ever performance under Brendan Rodgers in European competition to get through,” said McDonald.
“It will be a tough ask but, going on some of the showings Celtic have put in away from him under Brendan Rodgers, it is more than possible. They have a squad capable of getting the result they need.”
Celtic’s inability to find a way past the stubborn Greeks was only made more frustrated by the fact AEK were down to 10 men for the final 33 minutes.
Nevertheless, McDonald reckons that only served to make the night tougher for Rodgers’ men.
“Celtic just could not break them down and you need to credit AEK for that,” praised the Australian. “They defended resolutely for a lot of the game. For all Celtic had pressure in the first half, they had two or three chances at most.
“Then, when AEK went down to ten men they brought on an extra man in midfield to flood it. I made it harder for Celtic because their job became just to spoil and not even try to attack.”
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