Facing Europe’s top team in the Champions League is a hard enough task. But when Celtic take on Real Madrid at Parkhead in their Group F opener, Ange Postecoglou reckons they might just be facing the world’s best player too.
Karim Benzema was Los Blancos’ talisman last season as Carlo Ancelotti’s side claimed the trophy for a 14th time. Hoops defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt will have to shackle Special K if Celtic are to defy the odds. French superstar Benzema is bookies’ favourite to win the Ballon D’Or, ahead of the likes of Mo Salah, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski.
Celtic gaffer Ange is full of praise for the way that Ancelotti’s side became European champions in May after seeing off PSG, Chelsea,
Manchester City and Liverpool along the way. And he can’t wait to visit the famous Bernabeu for Celtic’s final group game as it will be his first time there as a gaffer. Postecoglou has already been to some of the most iconic stadiums in the world as Australia boss.
But he only enjoys visiting them if his team plays well. As he looked ahead to the Real Madrid clashes and the threat of their star striker, he said: “Benzema would deserve to win the Ballon D’Or. He was outstanding for Real Madrid last year.
“But when you look at them as a group, what they did to win the Champions League was always to find a way to win their games. They have such a history and tradition of being successful in this competition that they can never be underestimated.
“I’m well aware of their pedigree. I haven’t been to the Bernabeu. It will be great if we have a positive performance but not if we don’t.
“I’ve been lucky – I’ve been to the Maracana in Brazil, Wembley ... all of these places. But the ones I remember fondly are the ones where my team did well. That’s key to it. For our fans in particular, it will be an unbelievable experience for them going to Bernabeu.”
Before Postecoglou can feast at Europe’s top table, he has the bread and butter of the Premiership to devour first. And while he looks ahead to the prestige of the Champions League, he’ll face a manager today whose campaign might be wrecked by a Euro mauling.
Jack Ross and Dundee United toasted a stunning Europa League win over Dutch cracks AZ Alkmaar not that long ago. But after a 7-0 second-leg humiliation in Holland, followed by two disastrous league defeats, the Terrors boss is toiling. Postecoglou won’t dish out sympathy to his counterpart but believes United will soon get back on track. He said: “I don’t think Jack needs sympathy – I don’t if I’m going through a tough time.
“It’s more about my respect for every manager and the challenges they face. A few weeks ago when they beat AZ Alkmaar the mood was a lot different for Jack and his team.
“It can change back just as quickly – and that’s the danger for us. If they have a strong performance against us, everything changes.
“So we need to make sure we’re ready for that. It’s important we prepare for a team who are going to be highly motivated to do well against us.”
After United, Celtic head back up to Dingwall for a Premier Sports Cup tie against Ross County. That should give Postecoglou a chance to rotate his squad, with an Old Firm derby after that and their first Champions League showdown in the first week of September.
But the Parkhead boss insists he won’t make changes for the sake of it – and refused to confirm whether summer signing Benji Siegrist will be his cup keeper to give Joe Hart a rest.
Postecoglou said: “We’ve been working hard in this period to prepare a squad for all of these games coming up. Even the guys who haven’t had game time, we’ve given them bounce games to get to levels where they’re ready to go.
“It’s about a group of players. Sometimes we’ll take into account the previous game and how much that match took out of the players. But every time I’ll pick a team to get the job done.
“If I pick a cup goalkeeper, I will be limiting myself. Goalkeepers want to play every game. Joe is our No.1 but Benji has been outstanding in training and Scott Bain is working hard. Come midweek, I’ll make a decision on what is best to win the games, whether that’s in goal or in any other position.”
