David Turnbull insists Celtic are out to write another piece of magical Parkhead history against Real Madrid.
Ange Postecoglou’s troops are gearing up for the Champions League cracker against the champions of Europe. Turnbull's team could not be in better shape ahead of the Group F opener having demolished Rangers 4-0 to establish a five-point lead at the top of the Premiership. Attention switched to the continental test after the Old Firm rout and the visit of the Spanish superclub.
Postecoglou’s men face a mammoth task against Carlo Ancelotti’s side but the Italian’s Milan team were defending European champions 15 years ago just as Real are at the moment when they fell in Glasgow’s east end. Celtic beat Real on home soil in 1980 and, 10 years ago, they defeated a brilliant Barcelona side that included Lionel Messi on an evening fans still fondly cherish.
Asked if the current squad know they could add to that Euro folklore by sinking the 14-time tournament winners, Turnbull said: “Yeah. Every game you play for this club, you know you have got a chance of writing history.
“That’s what the boys will go in trying to do. After the game, we might look back on it and think it was a great experience. It’s a great game and you grow up wanting to play in them. But going into it, we’ll treat it as another one and just try to play our football.”
Postecoglou is determined to have a go at their illustrious opponents and Turnbull doesn’t agree with any suggestions the clash is something of a free hit for the in-form Scottish champions. He said: “No. Obviously it’s a huge game and the glamour that comes with it because it’s a huge team.
“But looking to the game, we want to play our own football and see what happens. It’s just the pressure that comes with being at Celtic. These are the ties you want and games you want to play in – and you still go into that wanting to win and trying to win.”
The squad are keen to make a mark and have a serious tilt at qualifying for the knockout phase. Turnbull said: “We want to give every game our best shot and get the results we want.
“If that was to qualify us through the group, it would be a massive achievement. It’ll be good to get it started on Tuesday and kick on from that.”
Celtic could be without key pair Kyogo Furuhashi and Carl Starfelt for the match after the duo went off injured during the demolition of Rangers. The Japanese injured a shoulder in the opening seconds while the Swede succumbed to a knee issue in the second half.
But Giorgos Giakoumakis and Moritz Jenz were able replacements in the 4-0 win and Turnbull added: “Competition for places is huge. You saw against Rangers the boys who came on and stepped into their places were brilliant.They didn’t look out of place.”
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