Valencia manager Marcelino has revealed his admiration for the current crop of Celtic players – and expects some of them to go on and play at a higher level.
Parkhead manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed last night that Kieran Tierney will not make the game and while Marcelino has noted the absence of the influential fullback, he has spoken of his respect for some of his colleagues.
“They have a player injured who’s very important in Kieran Tierney,” said the Valencia manager. “James Forrest, Odsonne Edouard, Scott Brown are all very good players. They have a lot of very good players.
“As a team they work very well, they have a very good manager and attacking philosophy. I anticipate in the future a lot of these players will be playing at a very high level.”
READ MORE: Here's what Celtic must do to win against Valencia
There will be a theatrical feel to the opening stages of the game with Celtic’s disco lights set for another showing as the club host the Spaniards for the opening leg of the last 32 tie.
And while it is always dubious to question whether experienced European and international players are ever fazed by what goes on around them, Marcelino expects tonight’s game to be similar to walking out at Anfield.
“From the information I have been told it will be spectacular and one of the best atmospheres in European football so we’re excited,” he said.
“We have had an important match at Anfield and I think it will be similar, if not better.
It’s something all professional footballers want to experience, these types of atmospheres, so we go into the game with maximum motivation.”
READ MORE: Guedes, Cheryshev, Gabriel: Ones to watch for Valencia
The Valencia manager, however, has stressed that it isn’t just the stadium that will rise to the occasion tonight.
Marcelino has praised Celtic’s workrate and has insisted that the Spaniards will not take their threat lightly.
“Celtic play fast and dynamic football,” he said. “They are super-intense when they have the ball and don’t have the ball. We are going to try and be equally intense and keep up the tempo and rhythm for 90 minutes.
“Our intention is to try and win. But this is a difficult match. Celtic are a good team, especially when we have a lot of players out. But we are not playing unknowns. We are playing a very good team, with some very good players – both young players and full, experienced internationals.
“It will not be easy. We have to perform to our very best if we are to try and get through.”
Like Celtic, Valencia don’t have their injury problems to seek ahead of the tie.
“We have a lot of injuries so it’ll be difficult,” said Marcelino.
“For us it’s something we struggle with, centre midfield. Geoffrey Kondogbia is injured, Coquelin has some problems.
“Parejo is tired after an accumulation of all the games he’s played so this is something we have to bear in mind. We have to compensate these skills, be competitive and we will just see what happens.
“I’m not able to say if Parejo will play, start or feature. I think we will just have to look at the squad and see what players we have.
“Rodrigo is injured. If he wasn’t he would be here.”
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