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Ange Postecoglou believes Celtic’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk tonight is a “must-win” for their Europa League qualification prospects.
The Hoops’ hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages are already over after picking up only one point from a possible 12 in Group F so far.
They trail tonight’s Ukranian opponents by four points and even a win this evening would leave them needing to take something from Real Madrid in their final game to snatch a place in Europe’s secondary competition.
Postecoglou said: “In the context of us continuing in Europe, it’s a must-win game and our ambition is to try and achieve that and keep us alive.
“It’s not that because I think we deserve something you automatically get it or you feel like you’re owed something.”
While still searching for their first win in the competition this term, Celtic have earned plaudits for their attacking style and were particularly unlucky to lose to RB Leipzig last time out after missing a host of chances in a 2-0 reverse.
The Australian coach suggested they will take a similarly adventurous approach tonight and has urged his side to be more clinical in front goal.
He added: “My thought process around this whole thing is that if you keep putting yourself in that position of creating chances then eventually you get your rewards and that’s the key for us.
“We have to tackle it in the same manner, particularly here at home, put pressure on the opposition and if we create the same number of chances then it’s about converting them.
“From my perspective, it’s a lot better being in that sort of situation rather than trying to figure out how to create chances to try and score goals.
“European football in general, we found last season in the Europa League the physical demands are greater than the Premiership.
“That’s because for the most part of Premiership games even though we try and play high tempo we have a lot of control of the games, which means we’re not doing too much running back towards our goal.
“But you’re playing against better opposition and it’s more of a challenge for us to maintain that tempo when you don’t have the ball.
“But within that context I think physically, in all the games, we’ve performed really well but the difficulty then is recovery and getting back up for your next game when they’re so close together.”
Jota remains sidelined
Postecoglou will be without Portuguese star Jota for the crucial clash at Parkhead.
The 23-year-old forward was recently named in Portugal’s provisional 55-man squad for the World Cup but has missed Celtic’s last four games with injury.
Defender Carl Starfelt is also expected to miss out but midfielder David Turnbull is available once again.
Postecoglou explained: “Jota had his last rehab session and is expected to start training with us again after the game and be available again for the weekend.
“Dave Turnbull is alright. Carl’s back in training which is great but it’s too early tomorrow. The idea is to get him back in training in the next few days and see how it goes.”
Did you know?
Celtic have lost seven of their last eight games in the Champions League (one draw), and are looking for their first win in the competition since September 2017.
The Hoops have won both of their previous home European matches against Shakhtar, winning 1-0 and 2-1 in the Champions League group stages in 2004-05 and 2007-08 respectively.
If Celtic lose this match, they will become the first team in UEFA Champions League history to lose eight consecutive home games. Their current streak of seven straight home defeats is the joint-longest in the competition, along with a Monaco run ending in 2018-19.
Shakhtar have never won a Champions League away match against a British team, losing on eight of their nine total trips (one draw).
Along with their victory over RB Leipzig on Matchday 1, the Ukrainian side will be looking to win multiple away games in a Champions League campaign for the first time since 2010-11.
Celtic have only kept one clean sheet in their last 29 matches in Europe’s elite competition, with that coming in a 3-0 win at Anderlecht in September 2017.
