Goran Obradovic, the Sion captain, predicts Celtic will not only be engaged in a Europa League knock out tie tonight, but also a game of hide and seek laced with a hefty dollop of psychology.
The Serbian midfielder has had a week to analyse the goalless draw played out at Celtic Park in the first leg, a result which has left Neil Lennon’s side facing a mountain to climb in the shadow of the Matterhorn.
The Sion president, Christian Constantin, has launched a Facebook campaign to mobilise the local support for what he is confident can be one of the most significant nights in the club’s history.
His coach, Laurent Roussey, insisted they will not fall for what he describes as Lennon’s mind games after he said the home team were favourites to progress.
Obradovic promises that those who do answer the rallying call will witness more than a football match.
The 35 year-old said: “I expect a game very different from the one last week in Glasgow. On the one hand, we must come out and we will meet the Scots head on. But I also think it seems unlikely Celtic will attack with the same passion now they are away from home.
“This new balance of power could well lead to a game of hide and seek between tactical and psychological warfare. I think we can win. A game which stays tight and close until half-time and then is punctuated by a goal in the last 20 minutes would suit me perfectly.”
That would bring a cheer all the way from Edinburgh as Obradovic’s team-mate, Jose Goncalves, revealed he has received good luck messages from former Hearts colleagues, Suso Santana and Marius Zaliukus.
Obradovic has previous when it comes to upsetting the odds in European competition. He captained Servette to the quarter-finals of this tournament a decade ago, disposing of Slavia Prague, Hertha Berlin and Real Zaragoza en route before losing to Valencia. Obradovic has identified similarities between Sion and Servette, and said: “I see a lot of things the same between the two teams, starting with the same desire to play.
“The Servette side of 10 years ago had everything. We had an extraordinary team which was very strong technically, but also tactically smart and strong physically. Within our group now, there is a sense of having nothing to envy about anyone else, which is the right attitude.
“As for Europe, I truly believe we have never been so close to qualifying for a group stage.”
Obradovic is not basing his opinion on Celtic’s record of just one away win in their last 29 European trips, recognising that Lennon’s side require only a score draw to eliminate Sion.
He said: “Celtic is a great European team, and I do not know who is going to come out on top, but I do feel the calmness and serenity which drives our squad is promising. I find us more serious, more competitive too, so much so that, since the beginning of the season, we have done nothing worse than draw.”
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