Forster Hopeful of Celtic’s Europa League Group Chances

Celtic goalie Fraser Forster has said that the Scottish champions have nothing to fear in their bid to qualify for the Europa League knockout rounds.

The Hoops drew 1-1 away to Ligue 1 and last season’s French Cup winners Rennes last week in a group also containing Cluj and Serie A giants Lazio.

Cluj knocked out Celtic out of Champions League qualifying. The Celtic goalkeeper, who has just returned to the club from a loan spell at Southampton, says there’s nothing to be afraid of.

He insists that his side played well against Rennes and could have come out with a win on another day. The goalkeeper thinks Celtic are in the right frame to pick up points against the duo of Cluj and Lazio both at home and away from home.

Romanians Cluj pay a visit to Celtic Park next week, merely two months from a slim 4-3 win in Glasgow that sent Celtic tumbling into Europa League qualifying for the second season on the bounce, with Cluj then losing their Champions League play-off.

In spite of the schedule against the Romanian side coming up just months away from their last, Forster is of the opinion that the game wasn’t about avenging the pain for Celtic.

Just like he said of Rennes, Forster suggests that his side could have progressed to the Champions League on a lucky day.

“On another day, we would have beaten them and gone through to the Champions League,” he explained.

He is adamant that the defeat to Cluj is far and gone and the Hoops aren’t looking to settle any scores whatsoever. Forster says he and his teammates are just looking to go all out to get maximum results. The goalkeeper believes Celtic would produce positive results if they play according to the standards they have set for themselves.

The goalkeeper, who is now at Parkhead on loan only five years since he left the club along with Neil Lennon, was also full of praise for the manager. He believes that the Celtic gaffer has got better with his man-management skills.

He insists that Lennon knew when to throw his arms around a player and when to scold that individual. He concludes by saying the manager was a top-class manager.

Celtic FC are available at 4.30 to finish as winners of Europa League Group E, while Lazio are available at 2.05

Written by: Roland Arum