Many feel Celtic are underprepared ahead of their Champions League qualifiers this month.
Brendan Rodgers is aware of who his Celtic side could face on August 20 (first-leg) and August 26 (second-leg) because it’s between Kairat and Slovan Bratislava.
On Wednesday evening, as Celtic rested after beating St Mirren over the weekend for their Premiership opener, Kairat secured a crucial first-leg win over Bratislava in Kazakhstan.
After the away side were reduced to ten men just after the hour mark, 16-year-old Dastan Satpaev stepped up in the 90th minute and dispatched what could prove to be a crucial penalty.
And now Celtic wait, but it’s pretty clear to Peter Grant what he wants…
Warning to Celtic after Kairat beat Slovan Bratislava in Champions League qualifier
Celtic thrashed Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League last season, so in that sense, they have the psychological edge over the Slovakian side.
But that’s not the reason why Grant prefers to face Bratislava, as he warned on Go Radio about the travelling Celtic will have to endure if Kairat see this game through.
Speaking on Go Radio, Grant was reacting as Kairat secured a crucial 1-0 win in the first leg, but he warned about the ‘strange’ nature of having to travel to a place like Kazakhstan, and how it doesn’t help the players in their preparations.
Kazakhstan are four hours ahead of Scotland. Plus, it takes over ten hours for the flight journey.
“I would rather go to Bratislava,” admitted Grant. “As you say, how important it is to keep all the players on the pitch (sending off for Bratislava).
“You lose a player, and that could be game-changing. We will see how it goes. Not a concern for us now. Once we see the results, then we take them on board, and then you know you have to prepare whatever you get.
“It’s the time difference as well (to Kazakhstan). I don’t know what time of the year this is. But the time we went, it was a hell of a difference. It was really strange. That is the thing that plays with you, more than anything else. Getting there, and the time to get back.
“Then you are travelling after your league match. Going back to another league match in between all these things.”
Celtic sent ‘disrespectful’ message re possible tie against Kairat
The other thing to note from Celtic’s perspective is not to take either team lightly because they have made it this far for a reason.
Yes, it would be disastrous if Celtic dropped into the Europa League, especially from a financial perspective, and given the general noise around the 2025 summer transfer market.
“Whoever gets through, you have to try and take them on,” added Grant. “It’s never easy. We are disrespectful at times.
“Sometimes, you look at these teams and you don’t realise that you are getting international players and all that throughout their teams.
“They have got good players. I am not saying that they are one of the world’s strongest teams. But everyone will give you a game. Every single one. For different reasons.”
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