ANALYSIS of the opposition is a vital yet sometimes laborious part of a head coach’s role, but Marco Rose has been enjoying that aspect of his job this week as he brushes up on Celtic, being hugely impressed by the attacking style of Ange Postecoglou’s side.
The RB Leipzig manager has pinpointed the Japanese players, Reo Hatate and Kyogo, as the main dangermen within the Celtic ranks, warning his team about the potency of Kyogo in front of goal in particular.
He has also been impressed by Celtic captain Callum McGregor, and has braced his players for the attacking approach the Scottish champions are certain to adopt even playing away from home in the Champions League.
“They have a team which is very active on the pitch off the ball with a lot of pace,” Rose said.
“They are very determined. It’s fun watching them because they are very attacking with a clear idea. They are hard-working.
“They have two or two or three lads from Japan. It’s fun watching them. They are a very active team against whom have to defend well. We accept the fight.
“Of course we will highlight such actions. It’s obvious how important those guys are for Celtic. They are small, very agile, very good at one on ones.
“I had a Japanese player with me in the past [Takumi Minamino]. He symbolises the great mentality they have, and they can play football very well actually.
"This is the first match and it is the most important one because it is next. Then we will travel there and play the second leg in Glasgow. Celtic have been a great team effort off the ball and in possession.
“Furuhashi for example is very dangerous in front of goal and they have other [good] players. in position 6 - McGregor has been doing a great job. He can relieve pressure and in position 8, they are playing very clearly.
“It’s just a great team. They and other lads can make the difference.”
Rose’s admiration for this Celtic team stems from his respect for their manager, as he praised Postecoglou’s football principles.
“I admire him,” he said. “His idea of football is very exciting.
“I like to watch Celtic because they are attacking. They play similar to us the way they interpret football.
“They like to put opponents under pressure off the ball, the way they win balls, the transition is fast with great counter-pressing.
“They are very aggressive in possession with 4-3-3. They have clear structures and ideas but also with a clear objective to be very attacking. That is why he has been doing a great job at a great club.
“Celtic are not a team that think defensively or about parking the bus in front of goal. It will be our task to put them in difficulties.
“We will find spaces and we will try to take advantage. Celtic in certain phases will try to attack and press us high.”
The match in the Red Bull Arena is a hugely significant one in the battle for qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament, with RB Leipzig without a point from their opening two matches and Celtic sitting on a single point from their draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Rose acknowledges that the double-header between his side and Celtic over the next week could be pivotal, and that the match in Germany is a must-win for his team.
“In football everything is possible, everything happens quickly,” he said.
“If you don’t win any points, you don’t get into the next round but we have a home match in a full stadium.
“We are looking forward to the Champions League anthem. We want to stay in this competition. We must show the right attitude to leave the pitch as the winner.
“If we show a good performance with a lot of energy, power, passion and are brave, the probability is pretty high that we will reward ourselves with three points.
“We still will not have made it into the next round but we won’t be eliminated. If we don’t get three points it will be very difficult for us.”
