Ange Postecoglou reckons Bodo/Glimt are a brilliant example to Scottish clubs on how to punch way above their weight.
And the Celtic boss insists his team will have to deliver their hardest blows to see off the Norwegians in the Europa Conference League Play-off.
Postecoglou is relishing the showdown against the Scandinavian shock troops.
Bodo/Glimt may lack the history or financial resources of some of their more illustrious Eliteserien rivals.
However, it has not stopped them powering past the likes of Rosenborg and grabbing back-to-back titles in the past two years.
Bodo/Glimt have also impressed on the continental stage with their 6-1 rout of Jose Mourinho’s Roma earlier this season sending shockwaves across Europe.
Coach Kjetil Knutsen is having to cope with constant squad changes and another four players left last month, including Hibs-bound Elias Melkersen.
But with a philosophy in place, a structure and a style to their football, Bodo/Glimt lead the way in their homeland.
Asked whether Bodo/Glimt and his Hoops team play in a similar way, Postecoglou said: “They have a similarity. There are differences within that but they are definitely a team that likes to have the ball and be aggressive with their press.
“That is why it is going to be a good game.
“There’s probably a lesson in that here with Scottish clubs that you can play that kind of football even if you are not a big club or have a big budget.
“It’s a city of 50,000 people. The stadium holds 6000. But you get the right coach in and the right sort of mentality then you can play that kind of football as well.”
Postecoglou, of course, hopes his team can produce a better version of the powerful, attacking style over the two legs and progress.
Celtic are in flying form with a competitive edge but Bodo/Glimt are still in their pre-season as they build up for a title defence.
Postecoglou understands the situation yet he’s not buying into the fact it’s the same scenario he faced when tackling FC Midtjylland last July in the Champions League qualifiers when the roles were reversed.
He said: “It’s not the same. They have the same coach as last year. I wasn’t the same Celtic coach.
“They have lost four players but the majority of their squad is still there.”
Postecoglou’s side are now into their third European competition of the campaign.
After dropping out of the Champions League at the hands of the Danes, a good effort in the group stage of the Europa League saw Celtic narrowly fail to qualify.
Goals were conceded regularly during the group phase but the boss said: “We improved on that during the campaign. We realised our play was effective even against the very best but we also got punished for mistakes.
“The players adjusted to that and understood we needed to be more efficient with our play and not give opportunities to opposition.
“That can only keep improving by measuring against the best and that’s what Europe lets you do.”
