Celtic

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Celtic have won four out of four this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding just one - but goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo has warned "we can do so much better".

LASK had two goals disallowed and a glut of chances but were swept away by an impressive attacking performance as Celtic won 3-0 in Tuesday night's Champions League play-off first leg.

Sinisalo's clean sheet didn't come easily - he made eight saves - and said: "I think we can be better, as weird as it may sound.

"The big moments went for us and there's a lot that we can do better. Ultimately, we've come away with a 3-0 win so we've got to be happy, but I think there's a lot more to come from the group.

"I don't need to make that many saves as I've done on Tuesday, so that's got to be the message.

"I didn't think we were brilliant. We were okay at times and some of the football we played was good, but I think we can be a lot better. They're a decent side and they'll cause us problems when we go there.

"It's not over. It's half-time and no one's getting carried away or ahead of ourselves."

Sinisalo, whose only prior European outing came in Celtic's 1-0 win in Stuttgart as they exited the Europa League last season, is determined to build on his experience after a special night where the Champions League anthem gave him "shivers".

"It's a funny one because not many Finnish players play in the Champions League or get that opportunity," the 24-year-old said. "It's something you dream about.

"But anything you dream about, once you get that taste of it, you just want more and I'm no different in that way.

"You hear that, it brings a smile to your face and shivers and stuff like that, but you just want more and want to belong at that level. It's like anything in life, if you want something, you get something, you just do it again and again and again.

"It's no different to winning trophies. Once you win one, you just want to win more."

Reports suggest Celtic are keen on Girona's Colombia midfielder Yaser Asprilla, 22. (Record - subscription required, external)

Forward Camilo Duran is willing to play wide on the right at Celtic, despite a central striking role being his preference. (Glasgow Times, external)

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray has no knowledge of Celtic interest in goalkeeper Balazs Toth, 28. (Herald - subscription required, external)

Friday's Scottish gossip

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The word "extraordinary" is much loved by Martin O'Neill.

I remember him using it repeatedly in an emotional post-match interview in Turin after he felt a dubiously-awarded penalty had robbed his side of a priceless point in the Champions League away to Juventus.

The fact that rant is now a quarter of a century old is, well, extraordinary in itself. As is the fact O'Neill once again stands on the verge of leading Celtic back to the promised land.

It would surely be the veteran manager's greatest achievement with the club. The three-goal cushion he's resting on will provide a great degree of comfort as he prepares to head to Linz to finish the job.

The tie - as he rightly points out - is far from a foregone conclusion given the myriad chances the talented Austrians carved out at Parkhead. Recent precedent tells you, however, precious few come from three down to win.

That Celtic sit so prominently in the box seat is further validation of the decision to bring the old master back.

It's when you start to consider the scale of his achievement in the available timeframe the mind begins to boggle. This time last year, O'Neill had been retired from football for more than six years.

In the space of a few short months across two spells last season, he wrought calm from chaos; success from failure; hope from despondency.

The football wasn't pretty but needs must. A league and cup double were plucked seemingly out of thin air. No wonder they call him the messiah.

I presumed part of his desire to accept yet another Celtic contract, even at the grand old age of 74, was to have one last crack at the Champions League. To do so, he'd have to get the board to part with some serious cash.

The more cynical among the support will tell you that's actually his greatest achievement. But spend the money they have, with Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan all expensively recruited. Paid for by the departures of Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels. Business is business.

In February, Celtic lost 4-1 at home to Stuttgart in the Europa League. They'd already been given lessons from Roma and Midtjylland. Wilfried Nancy was sacked in early January with the entire club in disarray.

From that starting point, how should we describe the prospect of O'Neill restoring domestic and European respectability to such an extent Celtic may well soon be a Champions League club again? It's extraordinary, right?

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Celtic have announced their first co-operation agreement of the season, partnering up with League Two Dumbarton.

Young goalkeeper Aiden Rice and midfielder Owen Hartington have now joined the Sons on loan but, under the agreement, can move between the clubs if required.

Meanwhile, Ayr United, who had a partnership with Celtic last season, have signed winger Thomas Hatton on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Scottish champions but has been involved with the first-team squad and featured in the recent friendly against AC Milan.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

Camilo Duran has wasted little time in becoming a Celtic hero.

The 24-year-old Colombian delivered what Martin O'Neill hailed as a "world-class" performance in the 3-0 win over LASK that pushed Celtic to the brink of the Champions League.

Duran's brilliant double had Parkhead bouncing while his tireless workrate and eagerness to track back also had fans nodding in approval. Could he even be an upgrade on departed idol Daizen Maeda?

"We know how important Maeda was to Celtic winning the league last season with his workrate, willingness to press and run in behind, and coming up with goals in big moments," said former Scotland forward James McFadden.

"Duran is showing he has all those attributes - and a little bit more. Outstanding - and the frightening thing is he's playing out of position."

On a night where Celtic had no passengers in a breathless performance - while riding their luck at times - it was Duran who shone brightest and his numbers underline his effectiveness.

He netted two goals from a combined xG of just 0.46, showing lethal finishing as he thumped in a volley then arced home either side of half-time.

In total Duran, who was deployed on the right wing, attempted six shots - the most of any Celtic player - and put four on target, while his five touches in the opposition box was a joint high with Kasper Hogh.

Duran also ranked joint first across both teams for dribbles (six, tied with Yang Hyun-jun) and won possession five times, a tally bettered only by Callum McGregor.

As captain McGregor remarked post-match: "Two unbelieves finishes - he's looked a real, real threat. But the thing I love the most about him is his workrate."

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Rangers have already made 11 signings this summer with at least another couple likely.

The total number of arrivals since the start of last summer's transfer window stands at an eye-watering 28 - leading to concerns from former Ibrox player Andy Halliday over the club's "scattergun" approach to recruitment.

And Halliday says there is now a "gulf" in quality between Rangers and Celtic.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, he said: "The key word is strategy. I can't describe Rangers' recruitment over the last 12 months as a strategy - more scattergun.

"When you see the amount of players they have brought in over a 12-month period, it doesn't look as if there's much strategic plan behind it.

"In terms of the players that have come in the building this year, the jury's out on some, some have done okay.

"But you look for immediate upgrades when they're coming in. I'm not too sure at this moment in time if there's immediate upgrades in the starting 11.

"I still think Rangers will do another two or three before the end of the transfer window and I'm expecting it to be the £7m, £8m, £9m players that are going to make a real difference."

Halliday joked he was "punching myself" rather than punching the air at Celtic's "outstanding" Champions League play-off first-leg win over LASK on Tuesday night, adding: "I think the gulf between Rangers and Celtic at this moment in time looks pretty big, given that towards the end of last season, you didn't feel as if there was too much between the sides.

"You look at the players who have come in - Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Mika Bauer, who I thought was impressive last night as well - I think they've made Celtic infinitely better."

Rangers host Jablonec tonight in their Conference League play-off first leg and Halliday says there can be no excuses from Derek McInnes' men.

"They're coming up against a decent side. Jabloenc finished fifth in the Czech league and have started this season ever so well, unbeaten," he said.

"But you can't offer Rangers much in terms of excuses when they're playing in the Conference League. They have to beat whoever's in front of them.

"It's not going to be easy, but it's certainly one you'd expect Rangers to go through."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Colby Donovan says he plays with "no fear" after the 19-year-old's impressive individual display helped Celtic take command of their Champions League play-off against LASK.

The right-back showed up well in the absence of the injured Alistair Johnston as the Scottish champions carved out a 3-0 lead to take to Austria for Tuesday's second leg.

"I feel comfortable in every game I go into," Donovan said. "I don't really have any fear, to be honest.

"Going into a big game, it's where I want to be. I want to play in the highest level, so going into the Champions League, I just need to play the same way I play in the SPFL and all the games I've played in so far. No nerves at all, not at all.

"As a boy coming through, you always want to play for yourself, you like playing the biggest stages. It's a big honour for me to play for myself in the Champions League.

"So that's where I want to be even in the coming years, even this season, next season. I just want to kick on."

Despite Celtic's three-goal cushion, Donovan warned that LASK will still be a threat in Austria on Tuesday.

"Look, they're a good team," he said. "You've seen that, they get two goals, luckily they're offside.

"We know it's going to be a tough tie over there. But we need to just go over there and do everything we've done again tonight and hopefully we'll see it through."

We asked for your views after Celtic took a firm grip of their Champions League play-off with a 3-0 first-leg win over LASK at Parkhead.

Here are some of your comments:

Gavin: Superb going forward, solid in midfield but far too open at the back. We need more back-up and we will need to score in the away game. Overall they are a new team starting to knit together.

Brandon: Easily one of the best European nights in a while at Celtic Park, what an atmosphere!

Gordy: Fantastic performance and result, still a bit lax in defence at times but we are starting to build an exciting team. Camilo Duran stole the show with his goals and display, but the performance of Kasper Hogh was vital as he was the link from defence to attack and kept both centre-halves busy all night. Hopefully get the job done next week and then a few more signings, magnificent European night.

John: What a fantastic result. Going forward we looked very good and could have scored more. The result could have easily ended 3-3 and we would have had no complaints. LASK are a very good team also. We still have work to do for the second leg. Overall a great result and a big step in the right direction.

George: What a big difference from last season but the defence is still not good enough. Better teams will rip it apart.

Ian: Great team performance, much more pace with the passing, much more attacking intent, great to see. New signings looking sharp and what a shift from Duran and young Colby Donovan! Outstanding. Going into the second leg with confidence, same again please.

Celtic are considering a move for Southampton's Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, 24. (Scotsman - subscription required, external)

Sporting director Robert Graf says Hajduk Split need to sell players amid Celtic's interest in Niko Sigur, 22. (Record - subscription required, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "I thought there were periods where we played some really fantastic stuff.

"There was also periods where they played fantastic stuff. It was really like a basketball game, particularly in the first half.

"We rode a little bit of luck, they had a great shot in the first minute. Just marginally offside.

"They had a great chance just a moment or two after that, so they started the brighter, and it took us time to get going.

"But when we did, then we scored.

"Great goal by Benjamin Nygren to take a bit of pressure off, give us the lead, and then Camilo Duran's two goals were fantastic.

"But the game is absolutely in the balance yet.

"I didn't even have to say it in the dressing room to the players, they know, they absolutely know this.

"I think that what we are, I think we've shown, I think we're capable of scoring, which we probably would need to do.

"But yeah, they are a fine side, I'm not playing it down at all. I think that this game, as I say, our goals were just fantastic.

"I mean, good enough to win any football match.

"But yeah, we've got a long way to go yet."

Celtic took a huge step towards the Champions League as two stunning Camilo Duran strikes helped carve out a commanding first-leg play-off lead against LASK.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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Pat Bonner: "In the next leg they still have a lot of work to do, and they have to do it well, but Celtic have shown with the way they played tonight that they should be in the Champions League.

"And I think when they get there, they will get better."

Kasper Schmeichel on TNT Sports: "The players, the club, the fans needed a night like this.

"After the first five minutes, Celtic were dominant.

This is one of those special nights and they've put themselves in an incredible position."

Scott Brown: "It was one of those games where I really enjoyed watching Celtic play.

"The new signings looked sharp, they looked focused, and the main thing is they're scoring goals.

"Now, going away from home, it's not time to go over there and shut up shop and hope you get through, you have to go and believe again.

"LASK are a good team, but Celtic made them look like a normal team with the way they dictated and moved the ball."

Joe Hart on TNT Sports: "Celtic are in the driving seat, but I don't think the tie is over.

"It wasn't a perfect performance, but Celtic got the supporters off their seats with three goals of the highest quality.

"Camilo Duran really announced himself and Celtic have put themselves in a fantastic position."

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Celtic midfielder Mika Baur tells TNT Sports: "It was unbelievable - the atmosphere, the energy.

"They told me to be me, play your game, help the team fight.

I think I did good today.

"We did a great job, but it's just the first step."