Celtic Prepares for Champions League Play-off Against Kairat
Champions League Play-off: Kairat vs Celtic (Aggregate 0-0)
Venue: Central Stadium, Almaty Date: Tuesday, 26 August Time: 17:45 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has encouraged his players to focus on their performance rather than fear failure ahead of Tuesday's crucial Champions League play-off match against Kairat in Almaty. The teams are currently tied at 0-0 following the first leg in Glasgow last week.
Celtic has participated in the group stage of the Champions League for the past three seasons without needing to navigate qualifiers or play-offs. Last season, the team reportedly earned £38 million from their run to the round of 16.
“I don’t need to explain it,” said Rodgers. “Don’t worry about failing; worry about performance. If you think too much about the consequences, it can paralyze you.”
Rodgers dismissed any claims that he underestimated Kairat, emphasizing that there are “no excuses” regarding the demanding 3,500-mile journey. “We always respect every opponent,” he stated. “We knew they would be a strong side and difficult to beat.”
He continued, “They are tough to break down, and it’s up to us to impose our game. We never disrespect or underestimate any team. If we play the football we have shown in many of our league games this year, we have an excellent chance of qualifying.”
Rodgers noted that Kairat faced the same travel challenges, stating, “We have to perform, and that’s our sole focus. I’m excited to play in a pressure game where we need to win. That’s what we want.”
In team news, Celtic right-back Alastair Johnston is sidelined for approximately 12 weeks, and defender Auston Trusty did not travel due to a plantar fascia issue. Forward Adam Idah, who missed the weekend victory over Livingston, has made the trip to Kazakhstan.
What They Said
Kairat manager Rafael Urazbakhtin: “Celtic players may have underestimated us at home. Now they will approach our game differently, with renewed motivation and attitude. There is a negative atmosphere around Celtic, but they are accustomed to handling such situations.”
“We believe everything depends on us as well. I don’t think there is greater pressure on Celtic than on our home team. We will strive to meet them and qualify for the group stage.”
“Celtic is an excellent team, and any player on their roster poses a significant threat. We must not focus on just one player but consider the entire team.”
Celtic defender Liam Scales: “This is where we want to be, playing at the highest level. Many of us have experienced this in the past few years, and we understand what’s at stake. Every team at this level is strong, and we know what is expected of us.”
An Arduous Trip Worth Making?
By BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin
For Celtic fans following their team to Kazakhstan, the journey has been long and challenging, with few direct flights available from the UK. Various routes exist, including a flight to Frankfurt from either Edinburgh or Glasgow, followed by a direct flight to Almaty, totaling approximately 10 hours of travel time.
My journey from Edinburgh included a layover in Istanbul, resulting in a total travel time of around 15 hours, arriving in Almaty at 03:40 local time. With daytime temperatures reaching the mid-30s Celsius, the kick-off on Tuesday night is scheduled for 21:45 to ensure cooler conditions for the match.
The stadium, with a capacity of about 23,000, saw tickets sell out in just over an hour, reflecting the significance of this game for Kairat. Only a few hundred Celtic fans have made the nearly 8,500-mile round trip, but for those who did, it will be worth it if Celtic secures a place in the Champions League group stage.