Stuart Kettlewell says Motherwell are coming up against a Celtic side that is right up there with the best he’s ever seen, but his side won’t go there expecting to get beat.
The Fir Park gaffer says Ange Postecoglou’s men are on a par with the Celtic and Rangers sides that have reached UEFA Cup or Europa League finals, and is full of admiration for them.
But that won’t stop him from tying to steer Motherwell to a win at Celtic Park on Saturday.
He said: “I think this is one of the best sides the Scottish Premiership has seen for several years.
“I’m a massive Scottish football fan, I have been my entire life, and I think you would pitch this team up there with many other excellent sides.
“We look at Celtic and Rangers sides that have got to European finals, and I would pitch this side right up there with those.
“It’s one thing to be a good side but it’s another to continually do that throughout 90 minutes, and the full course of a season and cup competitions as well.
“That then becomes a huge challenge for the teams that have to face Celtic.
“What my job is, is to make sure that our players respond to that and they’re well equipped to face it.”
Kettlewell added: “Of course they’re favourites to win, I don’t think there’s any doubt on that.
“What I have to do is pay massive compliment to the work they do, the consistency levels that they have.
“I’ve played against top teams in the past that get their nose in front, take their foot off the pedal and maybe don’t put teams to the sword.
“The energy levels can drop out , that intensity to score goals maybe isn’t quite there if you’re ahead in the game.
“I see a Celtic team that when they score one they want two, when they get two they want three.
“You look at the style of play, the application of players, you look at their mind-set to do what their manager asks, which I just think is first-class.
“In all those aspects, I think it proves and it shows over the course of two seasons since Ange Postecoglou has been in charge at Celtic that it’s such a difficult task.”
Kettlewell knows what his side will be up against, but hopes they can take something from the game.
“For me it’s the most difficult fixture that you’re going to face in the division,” he said, “but what I do also look at is that we never go into any game thinking we’re going to be second-best, we never think we can’t get anything out of it.
“That mind-set has never changed throughout my career, that’s going to be the message to the players.
“But I think it’s having a realisation of what they game is going to look like and making sure you acquit yourself well within that.
“I also look at it as a learning curve. I always think when you come up against top players and managers that you have to make sure you take something out of the game, so the next time you face them or those types of challenges, you’re a better version of yourself.
“I love and relish that challenge where you play against internationalists that are worth millions of pounds or touted for moves down south to big clubs.
“That can only help us all evolve and improve.”
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