Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen admits he hasn’t a clue how his new-look side will look when they come up against Celtic, Michael Gannon reports from Spain.
The Norwegian campaign doesn’t kick off until April and the manager has brought his squad back for pre-season early in a bid to get up to speed for the Europa Conference League first leg clash at Parkhead on February 17.
Bodo sparked their preparations with a 1-1 friendly draw against Dynamo Kiev yesterday at their training base in the south of Spain.
Knutsen knows the clock is ticking but he’s in the dark how his men will cope coming out of cold storage to face Ange Postecoglou 's team.
He said: “It’s a new situation for us because we are in the beginning of pre-season and we’ve never played a team like Celtic in this time.
“That’s the way it is though and for us to have a game against a club like Celtic is actually perfect for us in terms of preparation for the new league season.
“But how competitive we will be in the games against Celtic, I don’t know.”
Knutsen revealed he has been at Parkhead as a punter after taking in a game when he was on holiday in Scotland.
But he is aware the next trip will be far from a jolly.
Knutsen said: “They are a big club and a good team. Celtic are a typical international team because they like to play attacking football and have many good players, just like Dynamo Kiev.
“I have been watching the Celtic games but I will watch more games before we play them.
“I have been in Glasgow once and watched Celtic play Aberdeen. I was there on holiday. It was an amazing atmosphere.
“I know Scottish football though and of course know that Celtic and Rangers are both really good teams.
“For us, it’s a big game and we are all looking forward to it.
“But where we will be in late February, I don’t know.
“We are a new team now and for us it is about trying to do well again.”
Knutsen was pleased with his side’s showing against Kiev as they looked sharp for their first run-out.
The Ukrainians were fortunate not to go down but the Bodo boss believes there is a lot of work needing done ahead of the Hoops clash.
Knutsen said: “It was our first game of the season and it was an OK start.
“We have sold four players who all played for the national team, so it’s a new team I have and we need time. Hopefully, we can be competitive against Celtic but it’s only three weeks until the game.”
