Stuart Kettlewell feels there are “different ways” of beating Celtic.
The Motherwell manager will have his squad set up this weekend for the visit of the league leaders at Fir Park.
Fixtures between the two clubs have often ended in drama after chaotic late finishes and the boss would not rule out a similar afternoon on Sunday.
However he was quick to prevent his players from getting carried away as he acknowledged Brendan Rodgers‘ side as a major threat.
Kettlewell watched Celts hold onto a point away to Atalanta on Wednesday evening in what was a strong defensive performance in their goalless draw in Bergamo.
But he’s not anticipating the same Celtic to arrive on his doorstep looking for three points.
Still, the Steelmen will always feel they have an opportunity to get at the Hoops as they have done in the past and Kettlewell himself has picked up points against the champions previously.
But all-out-attack won’t work no matter how exhausted Celtic are after Wednesday and Kettlewell knows that. And he admits it would be naive of him to think otherwise.
Motherwell vs Celtic is a 3pm kick-off on Sunday
“Can we have a go? I believe we can, absolutely,” he told the media.
“I’ve been fortunate enough as a manager to pick up some results against Celtic and there’s different ways of doing it.
“It’s not just this idea of winning one cup game and saying we came out and had a go and everyone thinks that’s how it should be done every week… I don’t necessarily agree with that.
“You can have a go in stages of the game, you’re gonna have to play out certain moments of a game against Celtic.
“I firmly believe a team of Celtic’s quality will want us to be as open and as expansive as possible and they trust their quality and the multi-million pound players, the international players they have to potentially outplay us in one vs one.
Stuart Kettlewell’s record against Celtic
“We have to try ward against that at times but if you cast your mind back, certainly in my time, we’ve properly had a go, came out to try and score goals and be as offensive as we can against Celtic.
“It’s getting a balance, it’s not just for 90 minutes it’s through 10/15 minute spells in the game and trying to ensure that we can maximise those opportunities we have to attack them.
“I think it becomes incredibly naive to sit and say that you’re gonna play your most attacking team for 90 minutes and come out and come after Celtic. You try doing that over 36 games a season and see where you’re sitting at the end of it.”
Kettlewell has beaten Celtic once as a boss and managed two draws from nine.
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