Linfield boss David Healy insists his players won’t be dogged by a defeatist attitude heading into Tuesday night’s Champions League showdown with highly-fancied Bodo Glimt.
The Norwegian champions knocked Celtic out of last year’s Europa Conference League and beat Roma at home before losing to the Italian giants on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
A quick check of the club’s recent European record reveals ‘The Yellow Horde’ have lost just six of their last 25 games in all UEFA competitions.
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But while Bodo are odds-on favourites to progress, Healy isn’t giving up the ghost before a ball has been kicked in anger heading into tomorrow’s first leg in Belfast.
“We’ve had a look at Bodo and it’ll be a really tough game,” he said.
“They’re probably not a club too many outside of Norway would have known of until the past couple of seasons, even though they’ve been in existence for a helluva long time.
“But they have been hugely successful and had a huge European adventure last year. We’re under no illusions but we’re at home and I want to win the game.
“We’ve been strong in the majority of games we’ve played at home and I want that to carry on. The players will start on the front foot like we did against TNS last week.
“We may not have the same possession as we had against TNS, but the players will know their jobs and responsibilities when we do and don’t have the ball.”
Linfield are still without defender Jimmy Callacher while mobile winger Joel Cooper is ruled out after sustaining an injury in last week’s dramatic 2-1 aggregate win over The New Saints.
The Blues were heading out of the competition to the Welsh champions only for Jamie Mulgrew to level in stoppage time, with Ethan Devine pouncing for an extra-time winner.
“Joel’s fitness, strength, power and ability to get us up the pitch and relieve a wee bit of pressure, especially in European games, is an asset,” said Healy.
“But I am sure whoever comes in and plays will be equally as effective in getting us up the pitch and hopefully also create chances and score goals like Joel.
“It’s disappointing to lose a player like Joel but it also gives the opportunity to others to come in and hopefully prove a point.”
Skipper Mulgrew picked up a facial injury in Saturday’s thumping 8-1 friendly win at the Welders, but the experienced midfielder is expected to be fit to face Bodo.
**Linfield, who travel to Norway for the return leg next week, will face either Malmo (Sweden) or Zalgiris (Lithuania) if they progress to the third qualifying round.
If they exit the Champions League, they will drop into the third qualifying round of the Europa League where they will play either Qarabag (Azerbaijan) or Zurich (Switzerland).
Linfield famously beat Qarabag 3-2 at home in the Europa League three years ago, only to eventually lose on away goals to the Azerbaijani champions after a 2-1 defeat in Baku.
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