Celtic (bbc)

Celtic target away points
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP F
AC Milan v Celtic
Date: Weds, 29 September
Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan
Kick off: 1945 BST

Martin O'Neill says Celtic must end their Champions League drought away from
home in the San Siro to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The Scottish champions face AC Milan without having recorded a single point
in their previous six away matches.

But the Celtic manager said: "We knew how difficult the group was going to
be with two very fine sides in our group.

"So it's a simple equation - we have to try and get something out of the
game to stay in the competition."

History also goes against Celtic, who lost their opening game at home to
Barcelona, with no club from Scotland able to score against the Milanese
giants at the stadium.

"If we are going to qualify then we have to knock out one or the other,
which is a hell of task," said O'Neill.


We definitely need to take something from the game
Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov

"You have to respect them (Milan) as an excellent team but, if you're saying
that the respect turns into fear, that would present a problem. I don't
think that will be the case.

"I think we have enough belief in ourselves to think we can come here and
perform and that means taking the game to them when it demands."

Midfielder Stilian Petrov believes Celtic must leave Italy on Wednesday with
at least a point.

"If we want to stay in the competition, we definitely need to take something
from the game," said the midfielder.

"Milan didn't start very well in their championship, but I watched their
last game against Lazio, when they won even though they had only 10 men.

"It will be a very hard game for us, but we have to be confident."

Goalkeeper David Marshall added: "It's a poor record we have away from home
in the Champions League and I can't put my finger on why, because we had
good results in the Uefa Cup.

"We went to Anfield and won and we can't say that is any easier than going
to Rosenborg and winning.

"We haven't won a game in the Champions League away and in the Uefa Cup we
were flying, so we need to change that.

"If we concede early doors, we're going to have to go for it and attack. We
won't go there and set our stall out to defend."


Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/3693872.s
tm

Published: 2004/09/29 06:47:58 GMT

© BBC MMIV