“For Celtic, it’s more pressure than us,” LASK boss playing mind games

“We believe in ourselves. Celtic have a little bit more pressure because everybody knows Celtic,” LASK manager Dietmar Kuhbauer said at his pre-match media conference at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon ahead of his side’s Champions League playoff match against the Hoops.

“We are a small club but still a good club. But for Celtic, it’s more pressure than us. But I don’t go in my meetings and tell the guys they have more pressure. We have to believe in ourselves.

“We have 90 minutes and we have to play at highest level. The quality from Celtic is better than in Austria. Every guy has to be focused for this game. We don’t care if they have more pressure.

“I know everything about Celtic. Celtic is a club with tradition from many years ago. We know their squad, we know every player. We have a very strong team but anything can happen.

“If we play a good game tomorrow, and that’s our task, that we have in our stadium to qualify for the Champions League,” Kuhbauer said.

LASK did to the Austrian top sides what Hearts came close to doing to the two Glasgow giants last season where by winning the league for the first time since the 1960s. That opens the door to European football, with Europa League guaranteed if they fail to get past Celtic.

The Austrian Champions, who have never played in the Champions League can regard this tie as a free hit, although the LASK manager is well aware of the positive financial impact for his club if they can get the better of Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side.

“If we go to the Champions League, we get a lot of money and that’s wonderful for the club and players,” Kuhbauer added. “And we can play against the best in Europe. That’s the dream for a lot of players and our goal.”