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Champions League: Celtic's Joe Ledley targets group stage

Last updated on .From the section Celticcomments203

Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley

Celtic players face one of the biggest games of their lives in Wednesday's Champions League play-off, according to midfielder Joe Ledley.

Trailing 2-0 from the first leg against Shakhter Karagandy, Ledley said securing a place in the group stage is crucial to their season.

"It's the biggest club competition to play in with the best teams in the world," said the Welshman.

"It was fantastic last season and we want more."

Celtic progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League last term before losing to Juventus.

And the departures of Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson have made their task more difficult.

Nevertheless, Ledley is confident they can overturn the first-leg deficit against the Kazakh side.

"We've still got another 90 minutes to play," he said, "So hopefully on Wednesday night we come out, play strongly, attack straight from the first whistle and get the victory we need.

"And, with the fans behind us, anything can happen.

"We've scored a lot of goals at Celtic Park before and we know we can do it again.

"We need the group stages as a club and as a team. But we know it's going to be very difficult.

"Shakhter defend well as a unit and it will be hard to break them down."

Celtic have successfully overturned a 2-0 away first-leg deficit in three of the four occasions they have been set the task.

They defeated the French side St Etienne 4-0 in Glasgow in the 1968-69 European Cup, Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in the 1983-84 Uefa Cup and Cologne 3-0 in the 1992-93 Uefa Cup.

Only once have they failed to recover a 2-0 deficit in a home return leg, a 1982-83 European Cup second-round tie when Real Sociedad went through despite a 2-1 home win over the Spaniards.

Ledley believes the Celtic fans have an important role to play in the second leg.

"Nothing can beat a Champions League night here," he said.

"And the night we played Barcelona was one of the greatest moments of my life. The atmosphere was fantastic that night as well.

"The fans will play a massive role. The fans have been brilliant ever since I've been here and I'm sure they'll be the same on Wednesday night under the floodlights at Celtic Park; they'll be with us straight from the off."

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203 comments

  • Comment posted by U15473531, at 15:43 26 Aug 2013

    The board let Neil Lennon down this summer by selling the spine of our team - Wanyama, Hooper and Wilson. Maybe people can argue we got good money, however if we don't make it past this playoff, then it won't make a difference. We would have gotten the same amount of money for making the CL group stages as we did for selling these players. Its pathetic, 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

  • Comment posted by OGG, at 18:43 26 Aug 2013

    Bring back Nakamura!

  • Comment posted by U15702211, at 20:16 26 Aug 2013

    97. Fairies, banshees, warlocks, witches, ghouls and so on are all deeply rooted in Celtic folklore. Many Celts believe in them.

  • Comment posted by celtic_craig123, at 16:04 26 Aug 2013

    Some good comments on here. If we qualify, we've a better chance of making quality signings. However, do we have enough to turn the tie around? Could we not have held on to Hooper until we made the group stages, even if that meant less money for him? It would have been worth it, with what we would get from qualification for the CL.

  • Comment posted by U15620251, at 15:42 26 Aug 2013

    @7 - how does it feel to be duped by a troll?

    I just wish he was a real Liverpool fan so i could say that we are talking about champions league football here so what does it have to do with him?

    Sadly, he probably isnt.

  • Comment posted by Blueterred, at 12:12 27 Aug 2013

    #178

    They do exist, as confirmed by the ASA, in spite of Celtic supporters trying desperately to prove otherwise. And so does all of their history, same as Fiorentina. All intact. Nice try though. Have a good one.

  • Comment posted by grahame, at 15:56 26 Aug 2013

    I'm not a Celtic fan but watched the first game and how different it might have been if theytook their early chances. Watching their goalkeeper flap at balls in the area was like watching a performing seal clapping its fins. Pepper the 6 yard box with crosses and goals must come. Although, for that to happen, Lennon will have to abandon a defensive strategy and have players in the box to meet them

  • Comment posted by U14749909, at 15:38 26 Aug 2013

    @3 I disagree, i think it's definitely a night for wingers. We need players that can beat a man and get shots in on goal or crosses in. This team is gonna sit back with 10 men behind the ball. Impossible to break down through the middle so were gonna need big performance from wide players.Hopefully Boerrigter is fit and I'd nearly play McGeough as Forrest gets worse everytime i see him

  • Comment posted by Stephen Marsh, at 15:23 26 Aug 2013

    IMO Celtic can recover from 2 down, but they need to be far more clinical & more professional. I think they underestimated Shakhter first leg, but certainly won't this time round.

    The amount of £ that Celtic'll make from progressing compared to domestic tv makes it the most important game in their season. I hope Celtic win, it's good for Scottish football & could benefit the Scotland team too.

  • Comment posted by phil1872, at 11:05 27 Aug 2013

    172.JDandfries

    Tell me why you obsess about a team that have in your words no identity?
    If you look we have always been called The Rangers is that clear enough for you?

  • Comment posted by Rumplestiltskin, at 01:23 27 Aug 2013

    If Hooper is fit, he'll be playing against Bury tonight, and if he was unlucky enough to witness the game against Hull, he must be wondering if he made the right move. I just hope he gets fit soon, cos we were dreadful at the weekend. I don't suppose you'd swop Lennon for Hughton would you. No, I thought not. Good luck tomorrow by the way. God I wish we still had Paul Lambert running the show

  • Comment posted by U15786814, at 01:02 27 Aug 2013

    so tired of "The Rangers" fans saying they are the "true champions" of scotland. To me the true champions are the current champions, and certainly not a team in the nations 3rd tier! "troe champions" are generally held in high regard by their fellow peers too and i dont think the rangers are right now. Nothing short of a circus at ibrox at the minute. Charles Green will probably replace big ally..

  • Comment posted by Mactoon, at 21:30 26 Aug 2013

    As a non Celtic fan - who happened to see most of the first leg - I will be very surprised if Celtic don't win the tie comfortably. They were superior in the first leg but got undone by a combination of sloppiness and a spirited - if limited - effort by Shakter.I predict 4-0 Celtic.

  • Comment posted by Col, at 21:19 26 Aug 2013

    If Celtic lose this this tie, it is their last meaningful game before next season's CL qualifiers. How depressing is that?

  • Comment posted by ferrynuff, at 20:36 26 Aug 2013

    3 Champions League last 16 appearances for Celtic 3 times in the past 6 years speak for themselves.

    What sort of CL pedigree does Shakhtar Karagandy have???

  • Comment posted by williebraveheart, at 19:05 26 Aug 2013

    Ledley has only discovered this fact today?

  • Comment posted by Daddy, at 18:55 26 Aug 2013

    @82 I'm sure it'll be a conspiracy involving the SFA, the SPFL, Hector and Peter Lawell.

  • Comment posted by U15620251, at 17:08 26 Aug 2013

    54 - 43 thousand season ticket holders? really? shows how bad the football must be if they arent even turning up after buying the ticket. No way you are getting that many at home games now

  • Comment posted by who_dat, at 17:07 26 Aug 2013

    50.Madden83
    Only barca are on our level

    ===

    Got to love your quirky sense of humour.

  • Comment posted by U14304835, at 16:59 26 Aug 2013

    @46 - I agree with you to a point but Celtic shouldn't need to be playing qualifiers to get to the CL - What with being champions of Scotland. What exactly qualifies the likes of Arsenal, Man City etc to be in the CL ? It's a joke ! And I'm not having a dig at our English cousins - same for ALL the " Big " leagues - The CL Should be the champions of each country - the rest can play in the Europa

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