X
    Categories: 2018

Sports: Celtic’s Griffiths braced for tough Champions League qualifier in Armenia

 Agence France Presse
 Wednesday 3:42 PM GMT


Celtic's Griffiths braced for tough Champions League qualifier in Armenia

Glasgow, 

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths expects the Glasgow giants to have a
difficult opening game as they bid to reach the main draw of the
Champions League after they were paired against Alashkert.

The Hoops, who completed a second successive domestic treble last
season, face the Armenian side on July 10 in the first of four
potential rounds of qualifying if they are to reach the group phase.

Celtic were the first British club to win the then European Cup, in
1967, but the Scottish side have failed to make much of an impression
on the Champions League in recent times, having been knocked out in
the group stage in each of the last two seasons.

Griffiths, who scored twice in the Champions League last season, said
Wednesday: "It's always difficult wherever we go.

"The first game is never going to be easy. It's a long flight, with a
tough opponent and we don't know much about them."

He added: "It will be hard and then we have a good tie to look forward
to if we get through to the next round (against Norwegian club
Rosenborg or Icelandic champions Valur)."

A new format has extended the task of qualifying for a place among
European club football's elite and Griffiths said: "It's hard enough
when it is six games, but to make it eight makes it even harder, but
the boys are capable of doing it.

"We as players need to take it on the chin and get the job done as
quickly as we can.

"It's no easy feat to do, but we have got into the group stages in the
last two seasons."

Meanwhile Griffiths faces renewed pressure for his place after Celtic
made Odsonne Edouard's loan move into permanent signing from Paris
Saint-Germain.

Edouard scored 11 goals while on loan last season and Griffiths will
now be vying for one spot up front with Edouard and Moussa Dembele,
unless the latter leaves Parkhead in pre-season.

"It can be (frustrating)," said Griffiths. "But when you do play you
need to take your chance and impress the manager (Brendan Rodgers) and
you will be in the team.

"It is hard enough when it is two (strikers), never mind three, so
when a chance comes around you need to take it with both hands."

He added: "You have seen Odsonne's quality last season, and we have
signed him on a permanent deal so we have brought quality in."

Boris Nahapetian: