ANGE POSTECOGLOU has told his Celtic players they have to believe they can win the UEFA Conference League, as they gear up to open their campaign in the tournament against Bodo/Glimt at Celtic Park tonight.
Postecoglou is expecting a stiff examination at the hands of the Norwegian champions, who shocked European football last October as they blew Italian giants Roma away by six goal to one in this competition.
But the Celtic manager is setting his sights high, and believes he has assembled a squad that can challenge any of the sides left in the tournament, particularly as they now have the experience of challenging themselves against the likes of Real Betis and Bayer Leverkusen.
“What’s the point of rolling up on Thursday night if you don’t think you can win something?” Postecoglou said.
“For me, it’s about constantly exposing our players to this level and playing our football.
“I think you saw it during our group stage [of the Europa League]. We ended up winning three games in a tough group. It’s not like we struggled through it, even though we didn’t get through.
“We saw improvement there. We are in a different competition now, but you look at the calibre of teams left and there are still some fantastic clubs represented. We have a big challenge facing Bodo.
“You play in these things to try and have success. Why miss the opportunity if the opportunity is before you? If we don’t succeed, then we dust ourselves off and go again next year.
“But you don’t enter something to just participate and potentially miss an opportunity to create something.”
Longer term absentees like Kyogo and David Turnbull aside, Postecoglou expects almost a full squad to choose from for the game.
“The only one from Sunday is Mikey (Johnston),” he said.
“He came off with the ankle injury. It’ll keep him out for a little while, but nothing too significant.
“Everyone else is okay and Josip Juranovic is back training, so he’s available. Yosuke (Ideguchi) is not on the UEFA list and not eligible.”
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