Labbadia plays down Celtic clash

Hamburg boss Bruno Labbadia has played down the significance of Thursday’s Europa League Group C clash with Celtic at Parkhead.

After a 2-1 defeat by Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel on matchday one, and a 1-1 draw with Rapid Vienna at Celtic Park at the start of the month, Tony Mowbray’s men probably need three points against the German side if they are to have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages.

On the other hand, a win for the visitors, who recovered from a surprise opening defeat to Rapid Vienna to beat Hapoel, would leave them in a strong position ahead of the visit of Celtic to Hamburg next month.

However, with three games remaining after Thursday, Labbadia will not read too much into the result in Scotland.

“This group is actually much more difficult than you think,” said the former Bayern Munich and Hamburg striker

“Rapid Vienna are stronger than you think, as are Hapoel Tel Aviv.

“So tonight will not be the decisive game.

“I would say that maybe in matchday five, or in the last game, we will see who gets through.

“We are two very strong teams, two great teams with traditions and I think it will be a wonderful game.”

While the onus will be on Celtic to take the game to Hamburg, who stayed joint top of the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen after a goalless draw between the two teams on Saturday, Labbadia will not set his side out simply hoping to catch the Hoops on the break.

“We are not a team who holds back and plays counter-attacking football,” he said.

“Of course we will have to cope with the pressure that Celtic will put us under, that will be difficult because they are very good at it.

“But we are a team that tries to play our own game and that’s what our aim will be tonight.”