CELTIC were last night paid what was probably meant as a huge compliment when Anderlecht’s coach described them as ‘not a typical Scottish team'.
Given that Scotland's reputation on the continent is usually summed up by a foreign coach as: “We fear the Scots, they fight like lions,” Brendan Rodgers should accept this as praise with good grace.
Nicolas Frutos, who has been put in temporary charge of the Belgian champions, expects a technical game this evening in Brussels, rather than a kicking match, which of course he is right to.
"Celtic is not a typical Scottish team,” he said. “It's a good mixture between physical and technical play. The players who impressed me were Patrick Roberts and Scott Brown, the captain.
"I am confident. I've got a better feeling than before our two last games. Now, I saw more smiles in the dressing room. For this game, my players won't have to be motivated. We will try to play our game but instead of talking about it now, I prefer to show it tomorrow on the pitch
"Of course, we are favourites because we are at home. If Celtic were at home in Glasgow they would be the favourites. Both teams know they can get points in this game, though. They have a good mix of experienced players and have speed up front. They play a modern type of game with physical force and organisation at the back. They will work hard and so will we.
“We know this game and the one in Glasgow will be key to deciding who finishes third. But we also know that the Champions League involves six finals and we have to perform to our best in each of them."
Anderlecht are in a bit of a muddle right now and this, Celtic will hope, is going to help them to achieve a rare win away from home in the Champions League.
"I want to remain head coach, said Frutos. “It's clear in my head. If I feel the pressure? No, you always have to win in Anderlecht. I'm sure the fans will stand behind us. No, I don't have a message for them. The most important message, we will give them while playing."
Anderlecht veteran Olivier Deschacht still cherishes his first meeting with Celtic but admits his side's current line-up is a shadow of the one that defeated Martin O’Neill’s great team in 2003.
The Belgians were reduced to 10 men early on in their home match but thanks largely to a then unknown 17-year-old defender Vincent Kompany, a Celtic team including Larsson, Hartson and Petrov drew a blank. That 1-0 defeat was the main reason such a strong side failed to reach the group stages.
But Deschacht confessed the struggling Anderlecht crop Rodgers's men will face on Wednesday night would be no match for his former team-mates.
He said: "My best memory was in the home game against Celtic back in 2003. It was my first victory in the Champions League and against an excellent Glasgow Celtic side. They had Henrik Larsson up front at that time and he was one of the best forwards of that moment.
"We had to play with 10 men for a long time after Glen De Boeck was given a red card in the first half but we got the win and for that reason it's my favourite memory. It's very difficult to compare that period with today, though. It's more than 10 years since that game but I think our side was better back then.
"We had more balance at that time. We had a big guy in Yves Vanderhaeghe in midfield and Vincent Kompany at the back. We also had Aruna Dindane. Everyone was very fit in that side but now there's a bit less balance because of all the injuries we have and some players are still looking for their best form. That can change quickly, though. You sometimes need a game like tomorrow as it can help you work out these problems."
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