SEAD HAKSABANOVIC says that Celtic can beat RB Leipzig without captain Callum McGregor, after playing a starring role in his side’s dramatic win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was forced to reshuffle his pack in Perth as McGregor sat out the first match since injuring his knee in Germany in midweek, going to a 4-2-3-1 with Haksabanovic playing in a central attacking role behind Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Celtic created plenty of chances even without their influential skipper keeping things ticking over in midfield, and Haksabanovic hopes that is a sign they can cope without him as they step up a level on Tuesday night.
“He is a big piece of the team, outside and inside the pitch, but I know he is going to be there for us,” Haksabanovic said.
“He will be there to cheer us, but we have to show we can play without him as well.
“I’d say we can win. One hundred per cent. We are playing at home, the fans are going to give us that amazing atmosphere and it is going to feel so good.
“If we go out and give one hundred per cent and believe in ourselves, we have a chance.
“We made chances in Germany, so we are capable.”
Haksabanovic should have had at least a couple of assists in the game at McDiarmid Park after teeing up teammates in good positions, and he says that some shooting practice may be required before Tuesday evening.
“It would have been extremely frustrating if we hadn’t won because we had a lot of chances that we didn’t score from,” he said.
“That last goal made us feel joy and relief. We always go out there to play and take three points and the main thing is that we did that today.
“After training, though, we need to stay and do extra on shooting and finishing. No matter who we play, we feel we are going to make chances, but I think we should have made this game 3-0 earlier and then just play it out.
“You have to be really clinical at Champions League level. That is why I am saying we maybe have to stay behind in training. All of us.
“We need to focus on finishing and everything like that, so that when we do get chances, we are 100 per cent that we are going to score.”
