Daniel Majstorovic decline to contemplate another failed European campaign after Celtic drew 0-0 with Sion in the first-leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday. The Hoops were knocked out of the Champions League and the Europa League at the succeed stages last season and face a similar fate if they do not improve for the return game in Switzerland next week.
However, the Celtic stopper said:I'm not thinking about waiting another year to play in Europe. Now we have the chance and we need to take it.They will be a different team at home but with the quality we have we have nothing to fear.We can really hurt them there, there is no doubt about that and I'm sure that we score a goal.They are a decent team but no more than that.
Neil Lennon is hoping to have Gary Hooper, Beram Kayal and Kelvin Wilson back for the return game after all three missed out with wound.Wilson is a doubt for Sunday (against St Johnstone), said the Hoops boss.But I am hoping they will start preparation on Monday or Tuesday next week and if they do then they will be in contention.
Lennon explained why he dropped Lukasz Zaluska to put Fraser Forster instantly back in to the team after the Newcastle keeper signed another season-long loan deal.I wanted him to be my number one here, the former Celtic skipper said.He had a great season last year for us.”Lukasz hasn't done a lot wrong but neither has Fraser.Lukasz took it like a complete professional that he is.
The return game though, may be academic after Sion travelled to Glasgow with five players who, in the eyes of FIFA, were ineligible. The Swiss club had allegedly broken a signing embargo to recruit the players and two of them, Pascal Feindouno and former Hearts defender Jose Goncalves, were in the starting line-up on Thursday night.
The Swiss FA, along with Sion, has reportedly been warned by UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino about possible sanction though the Court of adjudication for Sport, who will rule on the issue, will not pass their verdict until after the go back game.