UEFA CHAMPION'S LEAGUE/Celtic v Dinamo Moscow:HISTORY SUGGESTS Tony Mowbray's managerial reputation could be on the line tonight when Celtic face Dinamo Moscow at Parkhead, although he is reluctant to admit as much.
There are parallels between this Champions League qualifying tie and the one that opened the Celtic tenure of his predecessor, Gordon Strachan, four years ago.
A 5-0 away defeat by Artmedia Bratislava damaged Strachan to the degree many fans never forgave him, although his team came within a goal of levelling that deficit in the second leg and later won three domestic titles in succession.
The subtext surrounds the monetary importance of Champions League football to Scottish clubs so, added to the fact Rangers will take their place in this season’s group phase, Mowbray would be forgiven a sense of foreboding.
“I think I am intelligent enough to realise there is a business side and football side to any club and they intertwine,” he said yesterday. “I am fully aware of the implications of going to the group stages and the extra finance it brings. I also understand the expectations of the supporters and they will be more than hopeful we can overcome this team and progress from the next round. This will be very difficult.”
Mowbray clearly hopes his assertion “there will be a modicum of understanding” in the event of an aggregate defeat to Dinamo will not be put to the test. Memories of Artmedia, though, loom large.
“If we lose a goal in the first five minutes to Dinamo and the stadium goes really quiet, then mentally it’s a long way back,” he said.
Mowbray surprised many on the eve of Dinamo’s visit by heaping praise on Aiden McGeady. The Republic of Ireland international had a turbulent relationship with Strachan, but appears to have Mowbray’s unwavering support. “‘A great player’ isn’t too strong a phrase to use for Aiden McGeady,” he said.
“I have watched him closely since I got here, and he is an exceptional talent. I’ve never seen quicker feet in a footballer than McGeady possesses.”
Dinamo, who are 15 games into their domestic season but have won only four times in their last 11, arrived in Glasgow yesterday without their suspended captain Dimitri Khokhlov.
Celtic captain Stephen McManus also misses out, through injury, as do Scott Brown and Barry Robson, who are recovering from surgery.
Dinamo Moscow coach Andrey Kobelev insists his players will not be intimidated by the atmosphere of a European night at Celtic Park.
The Parkhead club are working hard to have a 60,000 full house for the visit of the Russians, hoping to continue their impressive pre-season form with a convincing victory to take to Moscow next Wednesday.
Celtic beat Russian opponents Spartak Moscow on penalties in a Champions League qualifier at Parkhead two seasons ago. But Kobelev believes the fervour that drove the Hoops on to that win will not impact on his players. Before his side trained at Celtic Park, he said: “I’ve heard about the atmosphere from Spartak Moscow players, but I hope my team will cope. We have experienced players, and it’s better to play with many supporters in the stadium. Celtic were seeded – so it is going to be difficult. But the away goal will be a big advantage for us, so we will try and score.”
Kobelev, who refused to discuss individual Celtic players and played down the loss of his captain, believes Mowbray has already made an improvement since taking over from Strachan.
Pre-season games have hinted at the possibility of a more entertaining style of football under Mowbray, with Celtic unbeaten in four friendlies and yet to concede a goal.
While Mowbray jetted out to Russia after their 5-0 win over Al Ahly at Wembley on Friday to see Dinamo draw 1-1 with Lokomotiv Moscow, before returning to London for the 2-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday which clinched them the Wembley Cup, Kobelev admits his analysis comes from a DVD player. He said: “My assistant coach Alexander Smirnov was at Wembley to see Celtic play Spurs, so we have plenty of information about the team. I don’t think it is disadvantage I haven’t seen them in person.
CELTIC (probable, 4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Naylor; McGeady, N’Guemo, Donati, Maloney; McDonald, Fortune.
