OLIVIER Ntcham has expressed confidence the return of Scott Brown will help Celtic compete with Bayern Munich in their Champions League match in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
The Scottish champions were unconvincing against Ladbrokes Premiership rivals Dundee at Parkhead on Saturday even though a second half Ntcham strike sealed a 1-0 victory.
However, Brendan Rodgers rested several first team regulars ahead of the Group B match in Germany in midweek – including skipper Brown.
Ntcham is confident having his central midfield partner back in the Allianz Arena will result in an improved showing against Jupp Heynckes’s star-studded team.
“I think it is very important to have our captain fit again and I hope he is going to play in this game,” the Frenchman said. “I am very happy for him that he is back.
“He gives the team a real team spirit. He is always fighting for the team and he refuses to ever give up. He is always on the ball and trying to get the team going.
“Even if he doesn’t have it, he will always try and win it back for us. It’s really good to have him. Without him in the team, the same feeling on the pitch is not there.
“He helps me a lot when we are on the pitch together. There have been times when things have not been so good, maybe when I have not felt so comfortable, and he speaks to me and encourages me to keep going.
“That was what it was like against Anderlecht. Does he say it nicely? Well, you know what it’s like on the pitch!”
Rodgers insisted his side played like champions despite not being at their best in the 1-0 home win over Dundee.
Dorus de Vries returned in goal for the first time competitively since featuring against Kilmarnock in September 2016, while Costa Rica right-back Cristian Gamboa made his first appearance of the season and Eboue Kouassi returned from a knee injury sustained against Killie at the start of the campaign.
Ntcham’s 61st-minute strike extended Celtic’s unbeaten domestic run to 59 games and they remain top of the Ladbrokes Premiership over Aberdeen on goal difference, which, all in all, pleased manager Rodgers.
“What champions do is they show that little bit extra,” he said. “Okay, we weren’t at our fluent best, understandably having not worked together for a period of time.
“Olivier’s passing wasn’t up to speed but he ends up getting a great goal and the winner.
“So I am delighted with the result, and we will play better.”
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