BODO/GLIMT boss Kjetil Knutsen admits he's no idea if his new-look side will even manage to be competitive against Celtic when they play them in Europe next month.
The Norwegians are in the middle of their pre-season and only played their first warm-up match of the new season yesterday morning in Algorfa, Spain where they drew 1-1 with Dynamo Kiev.
Their Norwegian title-winning side from the past two seasons has broken up with several depatrures including star striker Erik Botheim moving to Russian big-spenders Krasnodar for £8.4 million and they also pocketed £3.5 million from Lens for their captain, Patrick Berg.
And Knutsen - who saw Nigerian striker Victor Boniface equalise for his side yesterday on the Costa Blanca - admits he is going into the unknown when he plays against the Hoops in the Europa Conference League.
He said: "We have sold four players who all played for the national team, so it's a new team I have and we need time. Hopefully, we can be competitive against Celtic, but it's only three weeks until the game and it will be difficult. We really need to use the time now to work hard before we play Celtic. Every day is important for us.
"It's a new situation for us because are in the beginning of pre-season and we've never played a team like Celtic in that period.
"That's the way it is though and for us to have a game against a club like Celtic is actually perfect for us in terms of preparation for the new league season. But how competitive we will be in the games against Celtic, I don't know.
"Celtic are a big club and a good team. They are a typical international team because they like to play, they play attacking football and have many good players, just like Dynamo Kiev do in fact.
"I have been in Glasgow once before and actually watched Celtic play Aberdeen. I was there on holiday. It was an amazing atmosphere. I know Scottish football though and of course know that Celtic and Rangers are both really good teams. For us, it's a big game and we are all looking forward to it.
"At Bodo we have our own DNA, we have our own style and we always play in the same way at home and away. We play Glimt football.
"But where we will be in late February, I don't know."
Knutsen was linked with a move to Rangers after Steven Gerrard left and was reportedly on the Ibrox club's shortlist before they made their move for Giovanni van Brocnckhorst. And he refused to deny it after the game yesterday.
He said: "Was there any contact? I don’t know. I never talk about other clubs and I am happy to be the coach of Bodo/Glimt.
"We are a new team now and for us, it is about trying to do well again. What will happen in the next three weeks I don’t know but I hope we can be competitive."
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