Ally McCoist, the former Rangers striker, has expressed skepticism about Celtic’s prospects in European competitions this season.
In a recent discussion, McCoist highlighted the challenges Celtic face, particularly referencing their upcoming Champions League match against RB Leipzig.
He noted that RB Leipzig, despite their current form, have a strong track record in European away games and are unlikely to be intimidated by the atmosphere at Celtic Park, but we all knew what happened after the final whistle (lol).
McCoist’s comments suggest that he believes Celtic may struggle to advance in Europe, given the caliber of their opponents and the demands of the competition.
Adam Idah believes Celtic have no reason to fear their Champions League opponents as they prepare for a crucial clash against Club Brugge in Glasgow on Wednesday.
With a chance to secure a spot in the last-16 play-offs, the Irish striker sees a bright opportunity for the Scottish champions to rewrite their European fortunes.
Celtic currently sit on seven points from four matches, and another three could be enough to secure a place in the top 24 of the competition’s new league format.
Analysts suggest that 16 points might even guarantee automatic progression to the quarter-finals.
With fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb, Young Boys, and Aston Villa still ahead, Idah remains optimistic.
“We feel we can compete with anyone,” said Idah. “Dortmund (last month’s 7-1 defeat) wasn’t the best, but before the game, we had confidence we could win. That’s what this season has been about. We are not afraid to play anyone.
“You saw that in the Leipzig game (a 3-1 win for Celtic). We showed what we were there to do and we feel we can go head-to-head with any team.”
Club Brugge, currently second in the Belgian Pro League, come to Glasgow on strong form, unbeaten in five games since a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan at the San Siro.
A bizarre Tyrone Mings handball gifted them a victory over Aston Villa, and they remain a formidable opponent.
Idah, who scored his maiden Champions League goal in the 5-1 rout of Slovan Bratislava, is eager for more success at Celtic Park. “We do relish the home games,” he said.
“Every time you have a Champions League game, it’s really exciting — and you want to win these games. We need to keep pushing and hopefully doing well.”
The striker has enjoyed a strong season, netting seven goals so far, including a late brace in the recent 4-1 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle. Targeted by missiles from the stands after his first goal, Idah laughed off the incident with good humour.
“I enjoyed it,” he said. “They gave me a bit when I was warming up, so I gave it back. I could probably buy all my Christmas presents with the amount of coins on the pitch! But it’s all a bit of banter.”
