Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen fears his team could be run over by Celtic ’s twin-engine machine.
But the Norwegian coach is adamant his troops will try to go wheel to wheel with Ange Postecoglou ’s fast-moving force.
Knutsen is a huge admirer of their Europa Conference League rivals and accepts the hosts may have a key due to the fact his team haven’t played competitively for two months.
The boss says it’s tough to go straight into battle from an off season, especially against a side with as many weapons as Celtic.
Knutsen explained: “Celtic is similar to us. They are an attacking team and attack with two engines.
“One on the left side with [Greg] Taylor, [Reo] Hatate and Jota with a lot of rotation and penetration.
“They do the same on the right side with [Josip] Juranovic, [Tom] Rogic and [Liel] Abada.
“They also have the captain [Calum] McGregor who gives balance to the team and can switch the play from side to side.
“For me they are a team and I have to say the manager and his team have done a great job as they started coaching this team from the summer. They have really developed the team.
“It is important that we have a counter plan. Celtic want to dominate the game and we want to do the same.
“If we are really good at playing the press and dominate the game, we can give them problems.
“We know the circumstances, Celtic are in the middle of the season in really good shape.
“We are in pre-season. That’s the way it is.
“We have been in Spain for three and a half weeks and worked really well. We have a new team, we have sold four really good players, but that’s the way it is and this is typical Bodo/Glimt, so it is not a new situation for us.
“The new players need time, but four weeks is okay and I think and hope we are competitive. I am not sure, but I hope.
“It is something to go from off-season to pre-season. We have played two games in Spain and it is different playing friendly games than playing a big game.
“We play football with high intensity and it is normal in Bodo/Glimt that we need more than four weeks to be ready to play football the way we want.
“I am pretty sure this team will be really good also this season, but this is the first real task. It is not easy to say.”
Knutsen hopes his team will get extra legs from the passionate crowd who will converge on Glasgow’s East End.
The gaffer was at a Celtic vs Aberdeen match 20 years ago during his holidays and said: “I know my players and with a full stadium we will get energy from the fans.
“We know we are playing against a big club with a great history and we will play against a team who at the moment is in great progress with a lot of confidence.
“Hopefully, we will play in full stadium. I have been here once. It is a big task for us, but we have played big teams before and done well so I really feel we are well-prepared.
“We are never talking about winning, we are talking about the performance and developing. The players and the team and the result will come because of hard work every day. It is our culture.”
Postecoglou has similar traits and Knutsen said: “I don’t know him. I know his history, that is all. But the most interesting thing is that we have seen is their last 11 games and we really like the team and the way they play. They are similar to us.”
