Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has proven that Celtic Park still holds a special place in the hearts of the continent’s most elite footballers – as he prepares to sample the unique atmosphere on Thursday night.
The Serbian, who is widely regarded as one of the top players in Serie A, should get to taste the Parkhead roar in the Europa League Group E clash.
There have been murmurings that Simone Inzaghi will rest some key men for the fixture, with league duty taking priority, but Milinkovic-Savic is certainly preparing himself to play in a noisy arena.
“The game at Celtic will not be an easy one – and I am ready for a big atmosphere,” he said, as reported by the Daily Record.
“To play in special stadiums, in big atmospheres is part of the joy of playing in Europe.
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“It is not something to be nervous of – but something to be excited by.”
Celtic Park atmosphere won’t scare Milinkovic-Savic
There will be very little Europa League feeling around Celtic Park on Thursday night. Instead it will be like the good old days when the Champions League was the midweek experience in Glasgow.
Experienced players like Milinkovic-Savic aren’t likely to be threatened or even put off by the Parkhead roar, but that doesn’t mean the Celtic support will be ineffectual. Their greater role will be to spur on the Celtic team and make them further believe that another big European scalp is possible.
Our Europa League home gate is double that of any other team in our group. That means that we must take full responsibility and aim for maximum points at Celtic Park. If we can beat Lazio and Rennes in Glasgow then we will be virtually assured qualification for the last 32 – something which was always the aim going into this group.
Lazio may have more talented players but that doesn’t mean ours can’t still play. With virtually the whole of the stadium behind our men, anything is possible.