SCOTT Brown has insisted Celtic are no longer big-game bottlers and have what it takes to hold their nerve against Rosenborg tomorrow night.
Celtic travel to Norway this afternoon knowing a goal would tip the scales in their favour in the Champions League third qualifying round clash favour after the 0-0 first-leg draw in Glasgow last week.
However, the Scottish champions are also well aware the tie could quickly slip away if Kare Ingebrigtsen’s side find the net.
In recent years, Celtic have choked in European qualifiers against the likes of Maribor and Malmo. However, Brown insists a different mindset was instilled in the players by Brendan Rodgers last season to get the right outcome against the likes of Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Manchester City – and it’s that same belief the captain says his side will take into the return with Rosenborg. “This is a totally different team from any other I have played in,” Brown said. “We have that belief that we can go anywhere and score goals, even when we are playing against some of the top teams in the world.
“We played against Manchester City away last season and pressed them up the park, made them make mistakes, and we got a goal from that. It is totally different from the old Celtic where we used to sit back and get 12 per cent of the ball against Barcelona, although we won that game 2-1.
“It is a different manager with a different philosophy. He believes we have enough energy that we can go and press teams and create chances and we have good players as well.
“There’s a belief, from the fans too – they believe we can go through whether we are playing at home or away. That’s been brought in by the manager and his backroom staff.
“It’s been battered into us, to relax and take the ball under pressure when there are two or three men on you and keep possession when you are away from home.
“Before, people would maybe press us and we’d just look for big [Georgios] Samaras up the park and play off him. It’s different now. So we need to make sure we keep possession.”
Meanwhile, Celtic have confirmed they will reopen the Green Brigade section of Parkhead after Saturday’s league opener against Hearts – but some fans will remain suspended.
A two-game closure of a 900- capacity section of the safe standing area was announced for the home match against Rosenborg and the Hearts game following “serious incidents of unsafe behaviour” at the previous two home fixtures.
Celtic were fined around £20,000 by Uefa for “blocked stairways” and “illicit banner” charges relating to the European qualifier against Linfield.
A club statement revealed the majority of season-ticket holders would be readmitted after the Hearts game. It said: “The club is in the process of writing to supporters to inform them of this decision and to confirm the control measures which are in place to allow the area to be reopened and operated safely.
“We fully understand this has been a difficult period for those affected. However, the decision was taken amid serious safety concerns.
“The club is continuing to inves- tigate events from the matches against Hearts [at the end of last season] and Linfield, and a number of fans within this area remain suspended. Celtic will continue to liaise with these supporters as well as the relevant stadium safety authorities.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here