Sturm Graz boss Jurgen Saumel wary of wounded Celtic

Jurgen Saumel warned his Sturm Graz side to brace themselves for a Celtic backlash in their Europa League clash at Parkhead on Thursday.

The Hoops are still smarting from the shock 2-0 defeat by Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are five points behind Premiership leaders Hearts, who they play at Tynecastle on Sunday, but first their attention is on a European campaign in which they have one point from their opening two league phase fixtures.

Sturm Graz beat Rangers 2-1 in Austria on October 2, having lost 2-0 to Midtjylland in their opening fixture, and go into the game top of the Austrian top flight with four straight wins in all competitions.

However, Saumel expects his side to have to work for anything they get from the visit to Glasgow.

Speaking through an interpreter at Celtic Park, the head coach said: “Well, we expect a Celtic team that will give everything, that wants to show a reaction after they lost the last game.

“But I’m focused on my team, on my players. We want to follow our principles and we can.

“We have to make our next steps because we want to improve from game to game in Europe.

“If we can make another step tomorrow with a great performance, we can get something out of this game.

“We know that they have a great team with great individuals.

“But the important thing tomorrow is how we will show up and have courage and there will be phases, periods where Celtic will push and we will have to defend deep and be dangerous ourselves.

“We have speed and we can always score goals.

“So we are playing against a great opponent but I have full confidence in my team.”