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“I believe we can, absolutely,” Stuart Kettlewell discusses ‘alternative techniques of overcoming Celtic’ but provides a naive warning
Stuart Kettlewell believes there are “different ways” to beat Celtic.
This weekend, the Motherwell boss will prepare his side for the league leaders’ visit to Fir Park.
Fixtures between the two clubs have frequently ended in drama due to frantic late finishes, and the manager did not rule out a similar day on Sunday.
However, he was keen to remind his team not to get carried away, recognising Brendan Rodgers’ side as a big threat.
Kettlewell witnessed Celtic earn a point away to Atalanta on Wednesday evening, thanks to a superb defensive performance in their goalless draw in Bergamo.
However, he does not expect the same Celtic to descend on his doorstep hunting for three points.
Still, the Steelmen will always believe they have a chance to take on the Hoops, as they did in the past, and Kettlewell has previously scored against the champs.
However, no matter how fatigued Celtic are after Wednesday, all-out onslaught will not succeed, and Kettlewell is well aware of this. And he recognises it would be naïve to believe otherwise.
Motherwell vs Celtic is a 3pm kick-off on Sunday
“Can we have a go? I believe we can, absolutely,” he told the media.
“I’ve been fortunate enough as a manager to pick up some results against Celtic and there’s different ways of doing it.
“It’s not just this idea of winning one cup game and saying we came out and had a go and everyone thinks that’s how it should be done every week… I don’t necessarily agree with that.
“You can have a go in stages of the game, you’re gonna have to play out certain moments of a game against Celtic.
“I firmly believe a team of Celtic’s quality will want us to be as open and as expansive as possible and they trust their quality and the multi-million pound players, the international players they have to potentially outplay us in one vs one.
Stuart Kettlewell’s record against Celtic
“We have to try ward against that at times but if you cast your mind back, certainly in my time, we’ve properly had a go, came out to try and score goals and be as offensive as we can against Celtic.
“It’s getting a balance, it’s not just for 90 minutes it’s through 10/15 minute spells in the game and trying to ensure that we can maximise those opportunities we have to attack them.
“I think it becomes incredibly naive to sit and say that you’re gonna play your most attacking team for 90 minutes and come out and come after Celtic. You try doing that over 36 games a season and see where you’re sitting at the end of it.”
Kettlewell has only beaten Celtic once in his managerial career, with two draws from nine games.
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