Even after a solid 2-0 win for the Hoops at Celtic Park last night, Dutch foes AZ Alkmaar are still brimming with belief ahead of the second leg.
Celtic are in the ascendancy ahead of next week’s clash in the Netherlands. Goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and a deflected James Forrest effort secured a massive result for Ange Postecoglou. The win wasn’t just vital for progression in the competition, but for the belief the new Celtic boss will want to instill into supporters regarding his tenure.
Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen didn’t need a win last night to do that. His fans and players all have belief in his methods after taking a struggling AZ side to third place last season.
And they don’t appear to wavered by their disappointing defeat last night either. Instead, they’ve been talking up their chances after creating some opportunities yet failing to take them.
As quoted by the Daily Record, manager Jansen said: “The rest this weekend will do us a lot of good. Remember we have Jesper Karlsson back after suspension for the second leg. He is a player who can score and create chances.
“I know we can score goals. I am confident about the return leg back home. In Alkmaar we have to make sure that we score that first goal, then it gets even more exciting. A 2-0 defeat used to be a bad result, but with the abolition of the away goal, you can say it’s a more even tie.”
“We know we can do it”
Midfielder Dani de Wit also took a bullish tone despite his disappointing performance last night. Even though Alkmaar produced some powderpuff finishing, the chances created appear to have them settled and ready to come at the Hoops.
As quoted by the Record, de Wit said: “We are all disappointed with the result because we hoped for a better scoreline.
“But even at 2-0, none of us think it’s over because we still have the second leg to come and we believed we have goals in us. We have scored enough goals in pre-season and we have guys who can score.
“We know we can do it. We created two massive chances in Glasgow and didn’t take them. That could have changed the tie.”
AZ Alkmaar were profligate at Celtic Park; Hoops can show them how it’s done in Holland
AZ are taking confidence from the openings they created. You can understand that. It’s important they take some sort of positive from wherever they can find one after a miserably disappointing night for their football club.
It doesn’t help them right now that negativity is sweeping through the start of their season. Before last night, they stumbled to a dreadful 1-0 opening day loss to RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivise. Again, they would miss big openings as they struggle to find the net in the early stages of the campaign.
However, the AZ camp is talking as if it doesn’t expect Celtic to create anything on their turf. Whilst the Dutch outfit showed their teeth last night, let’s not pretend Celtic couldn’t have run away with it.
Tom Rogic, Odsonne Edouard, and Liel Abada all had great chances to add to our advantage on the night. It’s not ridiculous to suggest that on another evening, Celtic could’ve won 3 or 4-0, nevermind AZ getting a result.
We know our Europa League playoff rivals will create opportunities in their home ground. The job is nowhere near done. But we’ll do the exact same, and a goal or two in our favour could put this out of reach for Jansen’s Eredivisie strugglers.
AZ are trying to put on a brave face after last night. That much is clear. But the mask they’re wearing is covering up some bad bruises given to them by the Hoops. Fingers crossed we can finish the job next week.
In other news, Ange Postecoglou promises Celtic will go after AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands
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