JAMES FORREST says that Celtic are relishing the prospect of one-leg qualifying matches for the Champions League because of their impressive away from in European competition.
The Scottish champions suffered just a single defeat on their travels around the continent last season, a dead rubber Europa League group game in Cluj after they had already qualified for the knockout stage.
Having drawn away from home against the likes of Copenhagen and Stade Rennais, as well as famously beating Lazio in the Stadio Olimpico, Forrest says that the prospect of possible one-off knockout games away holds no fear for Neil Lennon’s men.
In fact, he believes the compressed format of the qualifiers - with two-leg ties abandoned with the exception of the play-off stage - may even work in their favour.
“We were really good away from home in Europe last season,” said Forrest.
“We beat Sarajevo and Nomme Kalju away and then scored in a draw with Cluj. We had a lot of good games. We would have gone through it they had been one-off matches last season.
“The Champions League qualifiers will be one-off games in the new season, but we can look to them with some confidence. We are used to playing teams in different countries and in different environments as well. The boys have gained a lot of experience.
“It will be different playing one-off ties and away games are always difficult. It can be a case of backs against the wall sometimes in Europe when you are playing away from home. But we have managed to put in some big performances and big results in Europe, including against Lazio.
“It will be different, something that nobody has been involved in before. But I think it will show the strength of character that the players in the team have and I am sure we will be able to get some positive results.”
One thing that will not be any different for the Celtic players when the qualifying matches come around is the expectation that will be on their shoulders to make the group stage, no matter what the path to get there looks like.
“When you are at Celtic, the league is the most important thing,” said Forrest. “But you are always expected to get into the Champions League and put in big performances in Europe as well. That is always going to be there. The players all want to build on what we achieved in the Europa League last season.”
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