ROBERTO MANCINI has a reputation for at times being a difficult man but was charm personified when speaking highly of Celtic in what was a succinct press conference.
The Zenit St Petersburg manager, accompanied by defender Miha Mevlja, did not stay long in a cramped media centre inside the Celtic Park main stand. The Italian speaks four languages but wasn’t hugely interested in holding court in even his mother tongue.
However, the 53-year-old hung about long enough to be more than nice about the team which stands in his club’s way of Europa League progress this season, even if the point was made that Celtic’s lack of domestic competition does them no favours.
He made a further point that no team could be criticised for failing to beat Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich in a Champions League group.
Oh, and while two of Celtic’s players, Scott Sinclair and Dedryck Boyata, who is not fit for this match, didn’t have what it took to make it in his star-studded Manchester City team, they were okay by him,.
Mancini cuts an impressive figure. He even managed to make a tracksuit look almost fashionable. But, then, he is from Italy.
And while the Russian club he joined at the start of this season are favourites for this tie, some would make them close to odds-on, this famously meticulous coach is taking nothing for granted.
“I think this (Celtic’s position in Scotland) could be a problem,” said Mancini who was Inter Milan manager during a gripping tie in this competition of three years ago.
“But Celtic are a very good team. Many times they talk about going to play in the Premier League. However, their history is here and I think they can improve here.
“It is always a difficult game in Glasgow. Celtic at home are a very tough team. Their supporters always push the team. It is incredible.
"We could have a problem as it if the first game after a two month break. That is the situation and we need to be at our best to reach the next round.”
If Celtic are to pull off a shock they most likely need to win tonight and with a clean sheet. It’s asking a lot but any team must give a lot at this stage of either European competition.
Zenit are the top scorers in the Europa League so far. No team conceded as many as Celtic in the Champions League group stages. This is the challenge which lies in store for Brendan Rodgers and his players.
Mancini did offer support and said: “Celtic played in a difficult group. I think most teams would lose to PSG and Bayern Munich. It was a tough group and they will be better in the Europa League
“If we are able to win this game that would be a good result. I don’t think Brendan would agree with me. It is important for my team to try to be offensive and try to score.”
And what of Boyata and Sinclair, two Celtic player who were among the many unable to break into a Manchester City team worth hundreds of millions?
“Boyata played the first game in Premier League and got a red card against Arsenal at home,” recalled the defender’s old boss. “He was really young at the time.
“I bought Scott from Swansea and he was unlucky as our team was really strong. They are both good players."
The former Chelsea defender Bransilav Ivanovic is winning his battle for fitness, which is not what Celtic wanted to hear.
“He has a problem with his eye,” explained the manager. “He is getting better but is not 100 per cent yet. With his experience he is important to us. Maybe he can play or go on the bench or play. We will decide tomorrow.”
Miha Mevlja, Zenit’s hard looking centre-half from Slovenia, played down fears that the long winter break - it’s at least longer than any other in Europe - would prove a factor.
He said: “We are in good shape and are looking forward to this match after not playing for two months. We are used to having this time off, it happens every year, so we will be okay.
“We have had a lot of friendly games during that time and have done the best training to get ready for this game.
“I watched Celtic play in the Champions League a few times this season and they did well to reach the Europa League.
“True, we are leading scorers in the Europa League which was important to get us to this stage. However, this is a different competition. But I do hope we can keep scoring as we have been doing so far.”
Probable Zenit St Petersburg starting line-up (4-3-3): Lodygin; Smolnikov, Mevlja, Mammana, Criscito; Kuzyayev, Paredes, Zhirkov; Rigoni, Driussi, Kokorin.
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