Slovan Bratislava warned they must fear two ‘very fast’ Celtic stars in Champions League.
Who better to question than Lubo Moravcik, a former star player for both Celtic and Slovakia, ahead of Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League opening against Slovan Bratislava?
Maybe Celtic’s best opportunity to score three points comes in their opening match in an extended group stage.
A team placed 61st in the official FIFA rankings might provide Brendan Rodgers’ team with the perfect opponent to start the season against, since they have Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Atalanta up ahead.
Despite the fact that Celtic will be the favourites, particularly at a boisterous and packed Parkhead, Moravcik says The Hoops should approach Slovan Bratislava with caution and at their own peril.
This, after all, is a team with no shortage of height and physical power. They have experience too, in the shape of veteran Georgian Guram Kashia, former Tottenham defender Kevin Wimmer, Slovakia internationals Robert Mak and Juraj Kucka, plus captain and one-time Rangers winger Vladimir Weiss.
Celtic host Slovan Bratislava in Champions League opener
According to Moravcik, “there aren’t many tall players on Celtic.” Additionally, Slovan Bratislava’s squad included numerous talented headers.
“Slovan needs to investigate whether Celtic may be weak there.”
Celtic has a dismal track record when it comes to European play, especially in the Champions League.
The Hoops have failed to advance past the group stage in both of their prior two appearances. They have also suffered their fair share of defeats; in the previous season, Atletico Madrid easily defeated them 6-0.
Moravcik feels that Kyogo and his irrepressible fellow Japan international Daizen Maeda could be the difference between success and failure, with Celtic’s ability to press ferociously from the front likely to cash issues against a sluggish Slovan Bratislava backline.
Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda must be on top form
After witnessing Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn destroy Hibs in the 3-1 victory in August, Moravcik said, “Celtic will be the favourites and Slovan must be flawless to take anything from the game.”
“Three weeks ago, I had the good fortune to watch Celtic play Hibernian in the cup live. With so many large players, I had assumed that Hibs would pose a threat to Celtic, but Celtic’s attacking style was too strong for Hibs to handle.
Celtic is home to the swift Daizen Maeda and Yogo Furuhashi. If there’s even the slightest uncertainty, they can use it. There are many excellent technical players at Celtic.
Slovan needs to get used to the idea that they won’t get a brief respite on the ball. For them, this will be an amazing experience. They could surprise everyone and beat Celtic by one point.
“But that will be extremely, extremely difficult to do.”
Of course, Matt O’Riley won’t be playing for Celtic. Their main creator and a player with game-changing ability who can split even the best sides with a single swipe of his left boot, resembling a scalpel.
Still available to Rodgers are Arne Engels, a recent record signing, Paulo Bernardo, James Forrest, Kuhn, and Kyogo.
The constant running force and incredible work rate of Maeda will be a problem for any defence, especially considering that Celtic will be the underdog in the majority of their matches.
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