James Forrest isn’t expecting to find RB Salzburg in holiday mood on Thursday night.
A point will do to take Celtic into the last 32 of the Europa League, since the Austrians are already through some outsiders might look on the match as something of a formality.
Putting aside the clear links within the Red Bull empire Salzburg have a 100% record in the Europa League and in 2014/15 they won 3-1 at Celtic Park after being held to a 2-2 draw in the opening group match at home.
Forrest has experienced every possibility in European competition and won’t be fooled into expecting anything less than 100% commitment from Thursday’s visitors.
“We have been in that situation before in league games when people look at us and say that we don’t need to win a game,” Forrest told the Evening Times. “It’s rubbish.
“It’s maybe a bit different because there isn’t the same pressure upon you but a professional football players never walks into a game thinking that they are just turning up for a kickabout.
“You have your own professional pride. You are playing for a team and for a jersey. You don’t know if there will be players starting the game who have a point to prove to the manager or whatever.
“We will just concentrate on ourselves. We know what we have to do and we’ll concentrate on that.”
Celtic go into Thursday’s match three points ahead of RB Leipzig who will host Rosenborg at the same time as the Austrians visit Celtic.
A point will be enough to put Celtic out of reach for the Germans but if both clubs end the section level on points Leipzig will go through based on the 3-2 aggregate between the two clubs.
