FILIP Benkovic reckons Celtic shouldn’t be afraid to ‘dream big’ when it comes to their chances of a prolonged Europa League run this season. Still chasing the solitary point against FC Salzburg at Parkhead tonight that it would take to secure a last 32 place, the club’s Croatian defender reckons they would be entitled to feel pretty good about their chances of going far in the competition if they can qualify from a continental group stage at the expense of a club from one of Europe’s big four nations for the first time in their history.
“This season we have done very well, especially in the past few months,” said Benkovic. “If we keep going like that, I believe we can do nice things. But first we need to focus to Thursday as it will be a very hard game.
“If you want to do something really good, you must do some chasing and believing – dream of big stuff,” said Benkovic. “But you also have to be realistic. In the Europa League there are so many big teams. The likes of Napoli have just come into it so the competition is very hard. So you always have to go step by step.”
While Benkovic is keen not to get ahead of himself, one potential destination in the last 32 should a positive result present itself tonight is the return trip to Zagreb to face his old side Dinamo. They will top Group D, regardless of this week’s result, and Benkovic admits it would be special for him and his family. “Zagreb are top of the table, even if they lose they will finish first,” said the on-loan Leicester City player. “So they are going good in Europe, and I am happy for them. Everything is possible, we must get through this group, after the game we can think about that. But it would be special, you know.”
Benkovic will be speaking a little Croatian in any case tonight. With Dedryck Boyata still on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, he will play alongside his fellow Zagreb native Jozo Simunovic, even if it can be a struggle to make yourself heard against the Parkhead din in any language.
“I think we understand each other well,” said Benkovic. “Of course it has been a change with Dedryck’s injury, but this is football, you must be professional. Whoever you are playing beside, you have to speak a lot, this is the first thing, the most important. Most of the time we speak Croatian, but there is a big noise and it is difficult to understand each other – no matter which language we speak! It is difficult, so you try to speak with your body movements or whatever.”
Still only 21, Benkovic is getting used to the racket created by a 60,000 crowd on European nights. He was on the sidelines through injury as understrength Celtic side turned in a pallid performance in the 3-1 defeat in Austria earlier in the campaign. “Before the Leipzig match, I had played maybe only a few games, maybe derbies, in Croatia with an atmosphere like that. But here it is almost every game. If you play football you enjoy that, it gives you strength, it gives you power.”
Adjustment has also been required when it comes to playing through the festive period, sometimes three games a week. “It’s unusual for me at this time because in Croatia the half season would finish this week,” said Benkovic. “Normally I will spend Christmas with my family. This year I will be in a hotel.”
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