RB Leipzig assistant ready to phone his Celtic contact ahead of Rangers game

By David Walton

April 21, 2022

RB Leipzig assistant manager Andreas Hinkel has stated that he’s ready to phone Celtic contact John Kennedy ahead of their Europa League meeting next week.

The Bundesliga giants will take on our rivals in the semi-finals of the competition with the first leg in Germany next week. The game will also come just 3 days before Rangers visit Celtic Park in the final meeting between the sides this season.

Celtic have managed to get the better of the Ibrox club on 2 occasions this season both home and away. In addition to that, we currently lead the Premiership by 6 points and look destined for the title.

Former Celtic defender Hinkel, therefore, is eyeing up a quick call with Celtic assistant boss Kennedy before his own team square off with the Ibrox men.

As quoted by the Scottish Sun, the Leipzig assistant said: “I have always followed Celtic and Scottish football since I left the club. I have watched the Old Firm games against Rangers over the last few years.

“I have connections in Scotland and I am still in touch with people like John Kennedy at Celtic. I will maybe call some people before the first Rangers game to speak about the team. We will analyse all of Rangers’ recent games — but it can also help to speak to someone like Kendo.

“He has been involved against Rangers many times in the last few years and will be an expert on them. Unfortunately, due to our schedule, I will not be able to come and watch Rangers in person before we play. But we will analyse them and we will get our information on them.”

Hinkel set to look for Celtic help ahead of Rangers double-header

Leipzig shouldn’t particularly need Celtic’s help to knock Rangers out of the Europa League. However, Hinkel will undoubtedly get the assistance he needs if he feels he requires it.

Hinkel was a fine servant to the Hoops back in the Gordon Strachan days. Signing from Sevilla in 2008m the German went on to spend 3 years in Glasgow winning the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup respectively.

Since then, he’s had plenty of experience working as a coach back in his homeland. Hinkel worked in various roles with VFB Stuttgart between 2013 and 2019 before spending 2 years as an assistant boss at Spartak Moscow. Now, however, he’s in his biggest position yet – assistant of Bundesliga big-hitters Leipzig.

Celtic fans will almost certainly be cheering Hinkel’s side on in what will be a tense affair against the Ibrox side. It definitely looks as though RB have the advantage heading into the tie too.

And it would certainly be sweet if Celtic were able to play a role in them being knocked out of the competition. Especially given we’re in the middle of a title-race.

In any case, it’s great to see Hinkel doing so well back in Germany. Time will tell whether he’ll end up back at Celtic Park one day in a different coaching capacity.

In other news, £2m Ismaila Soro has now missed last 14 Celtic squads after failed January move