SCOTT SINCLAIR may not feel as if he has a point to prove to an old manager tonight but Celtic as a team need to prove themselves all over again to European football.
For many years and well beyond these shores, Parkhead was seen as a stadium to fear. Just ask Barcelona, AC Milan, Manchester United, Anderlecht, and Ajax who all lost in Glasgow. Bayern Munich, Milan, United again, and Liverpool could only draw.
Incredibly,given that record, Sinclair plus some of the newer Celtic players have yet to taste a home victory in any group stage match, be it the Champions League or Europa League.
Read more: Zenit St Petersburg manager Roberto Mancini insists his expensive team will be pushed hard by Celtic
Celtic’s last win after the qualification rounds came against Astra Giurgiu of Romania - yeah, them – in October 2014. They have since gone ten group games, and one Europa League last-16 tie against Inter Milan, without recording a single victory at Celtic Park.
And now come Zenit St Petersburg who are managed by Roberto Mancini, a wily coach and a man Sinclair knows well from their time together at Manchester City.
The Celtic winger might not have played a lot under the Italian but still saw enough of him to realise just how thorough Mancini was. This is going to be a testing night for the Scottish champions who won’t be able to throw up many surprises as they bid to improve this recent home record.
There’s a lot for Brendan Rodgers’s men to content with.
Sinclair said: “I wouldn’t say I have a point to prove to him (Mancini). It’s for myself. I have always set my own targets, my own levels, and try to do as well as I can for myself. I don’t feel as I have anything to prove to anyone.
“At City, Mancini knew absolutely everything about the opposition. He is incredibly organised, a top manager. When I went to City, I played only a few games under him, but what I would say he’s a really tactical manager, and I am sure he will be looking to win this game.
“He did spend a lot of money on me (£8m-plus from Swansea) but then City spent a lot of money on everyone else as well! That’s the way it was. When I went to City there were so many to quality players there who I ended up competing against.
“I would have like to have got more game-time there but what I would say is that I’m a completely different player to what I was back then. I am a better player at Celtic than I was at Manchester City.
“He wouldn’t give any specific reasons for me not playing. He just said, simply, that he had other players to choose from – he was very approachable when I did want to speak to him.”
Sinclair could do with a return to form this evening. It’s been an odd season for the Englishman whose personal statistics would point to a far better time than he’s actually enjoyed.
Still, the 28-year-old is a class act and, naturally, fancies an extended run in the Europa League. To do that, one would imagine, Celtic must win this evening ahead of the return in Russia.
Sinclair said: “This is a great opportunity for us, a great occasion and it’s now down to go out there, prove ourselves as a team, and make sure we go and win this game.
“We need to put on a great performance when we go out there. The main thing is to win the game but obviously to also put a show for the fans as well.
“I’m sure some people will say they are favourites but we don’t look at who are favourites or not. We just need to go out there and put a performance in and make sure we get a result.
“Celtic Park is an unbelievable place when we have the fans behind us. The atmosphere is amazing. I think that can spur us on even more.”
Zenit have a few roubles knocking about, one or two well-known names, and many more players who might not be as familiar but their former clubs and size of transfer fees are impressive.
Make no mistake, should Celtic get through this tie it would be an outstanding achievement.
Sinclair said: “As a player, you don’t really go into things think about how much players are worth or have cost. You go toe to toe with them and put in your shift – and try and make sure you are the one who performs better on the night.”
That is long overdue.
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