Post by Taxigirl on Mar 11, 2004 10:24:57 GMT
www.sportinglife.com/football/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/04/03/11/SOCCER_Celtic_O___Neill.html
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill hopes Chris Sutton will be fit to face Barcelona in the Nou Camp in a fortnight's time.
The English striker has been ruled out of the first leg of Celtic's UEFA Cup fourth round tie against the Catalan giants at Parkhead tonight after failing to recover from an ankle injury.
But O'Neill has played down fears that he could be a long-term absentee and is keeping his fingers crossed he will be back in time for the return match in Spain.
"We are still thinking it is one of those that he needs to get a full feeling back," said the Celtic boss.
"Until that happens, even though there is not any particular swelling on his ankle, it is one that he is uncomfortable with. The return leg is something that we are hoping for.
"I thought when he came off against Teplice that he would probably struggle for Sunday's game but we were hoping to have him available for Barcelona so that is why it is a blow. Let's see what happens. That is another fortnight away."
Another big concern for O'Neill is the form of Barcelona's Brazilian World Cup winning star Ronaldinho.
O'Neill said: "We will try to push him away from goal as often as we possibly can.
"But great players tend to find the room regardless of whether anybody's close to them or not. We need to keep a close eye on him.
"I am sure he probably always possessed a bit of arrogance about him but it looks like it is not misplaced now.
"He is playing wonderfully well and is entitled to the reputation as being an absolutely top-class player.
"When you are playing that well and you are that good a player he has a big influence on the team.
"He is up there with the best players and on many an afternoon in Spain recently he has maybe even surpassed that."
O'Neill admits that the Parkhead injury list may have sapped the confidence from his high-flying side.
The runaway Bank of Scotland Premier League leaders and Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-finalists are without a clutch of players including Sutton, John Hartson and Johan Mjallby.
O'Neill said: "Having had all the strikers fit it would give us more options and a great deal more confidence going into the game.
"We will try and adjust and see who is available and get on with it."
Fortunately he does have Henrik Larsson fit and O'Neill is confident Barcelona's reported interest in the Swede this week will not unduly affect the player.
He said: "I am hoping he does not go into these games with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I just think it is part of the whole of the pre-match package."
Barcelona have turned their season around with recent victories over Real Mallorca, Valencia and Deportivo la Coruna and O'Neill believes they should be gracing the Champions League.
He said: "I think that looking at some of the games in the Champions League this week that Barcelona, with their side at the moment, could easily take a place in the Champions League and feel they have a chance of winning it."
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill hopes Chris Sutton will be fit to face Barcelona in the Nou Camp in a fortnight's time.
The English striker has been ruled out of the first leg of Celtic's UEFA Cup fourth round tie against the Catalan giants at Parkhead tonight after failing to recover from an ankle injury.
But O'Neill has played down fears that he could be a long-term absentee and is keeping his fingers crossed he will be back in time for the return match in Spain.
"We are still thinking it is one of those that he needs to get a full feeling back," said the Celtic boss.
"Until that happens, even though there is not any particular swelling on his ankle, it is one that he is uncomfortable with. The return leg is something that we are hoping for.
"I thought when he came off against Teplice that he would probably struggle for Sunday's game but we were hoping to have him available for Barcelona so that is why it is a blow. Let's see what happens. That is another fortnight away."
Another big concern for O'Neill is the form of Barcelona's Brazilian World Cup winning star Ronaldinho.
O'Neill said: "We will try to push him away from goal as often as we possibly can.
"But great players tend to find the room regardless of whether anybody's close to them or not. We need to keep a close eye on him.
"I am sure he probably always possessed a bit of arrogance about him but it looks like it is not misplaced now.
"He is playing wonderfully well and is entitled to the reputation as being an absolutely top-class player.
"When you are playing that well and you are that good a player he has a big influence on the team.
"He is up there with the best players and on many an afternoon in Spain recently he has maybe even surpassed that."
O'Neill admits that the Parkhead injury list may have sapped the confidence from his high-flying side.
The runaway Bank of Scotland Premier League leaders and Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-finalists are without a clutch of players including Sutton, John Hartson and Johan Mjallby.
O'Neill said: "Having had all the strikers fit it would give us more options and a great deal more confidence going into the game.
"We will try and adjust and see who is available and get on with it."
Fortunately he does have Henrik Larsson fit and O'Neill is confident Barcelona's reported interest in the Swede this week will not unduly affect the player.
He said: "I am hoping he does not go into these games with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I just think it is part of the whole of the pre-match package."
Barcelona have turned their season around with recent victories over Real Mallorca, Valencia and Deportivo la Coruna and O'Neill believes they should be gracing the Champions League.
He said: "I think that looking at some of the games in the Champions League this week that Barcelona, with their side at the moment, could easily take a place in the Champions League and feel they have a chance of winning it."