Headline: LASK Linz Coach Expects Celtic to Face Greater Pressure in Champions League Clash
Celtic will encounter more mental pressure than LASK Linz in their pursuit of Champions League qualification, according to Dietmar Kuhbauer, head coach of the Austrian champions.
Kuhbauer, who led LASK to a successful league and cup double last season, noted that his team has launched this campaign impressively with four consecutive victories.
“We believe in ourselves,” Kuhbauer stated. “Celtic have a little bit more pressure because everybody knows Celtic. We are a small club, but still a good club. But for Celtic, it’s more pressure than for us.”
Despite acknowledging the pressures Celtic may experience, Kuhbauer emphasized that he does not focus on this aspect in preparations. “I don’t go into my meeting and tell the guys they [Celtic] have more pressure. We have to believe in ourselves. We have 90 minutes and we have to play at the highest level. We don’t care if they have more pressure.”
LASK goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth plans to leverage insights from new addition Miguel Freckleton, who was part of the St Mirren team that defeated Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final last December.
“We already talked with him because maybe he knows a few tricks,” Jungwirth explained. “He told us about the atmosphere. It’s a great atmosphere. But we should not be scared about this. It should give us a push to perform even better.”
Celtic will have to deal with more mental pressure than LASK Linz in their quest for Champions League qualification, says the Austrian champions’ head coach Dietmar Kuhbauer.
The 55-year-old guided LASK to a league and cup double last season and his team have started this campaign with four straight wins.
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“We believe in ourselves,” he said. “Celtic have a little bit more pressure because everybody knows Celtic.
“We are a small club, but still a good club. But for Celtic, it’s more pressure than for us.
“But I don’t go into my meeting and tell the guys they [Celtic] have more pressure.
“We have to believe in ourselves. We have 90 minutes and we have to play at the highest level. We don’t care if they have more pressure.”
Goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth will tap into the knowledge of new signing Miguel Freckleton, who played in the St Mirren side that beat Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final last December.
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“We already talked with him because maybe he knows a few tricks,” he said.
“He told us about the atmosphere. It’s a great atmosphere. But we should not be scared about this. It should give us a push to perform even better.”
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