Samaras warns of AaB threat

Greece does not have many representatives in this year’s edition of the UEFA Champions League, but one of the national team’s rising stars, Georgios Samaras, is hoping a fresh start will bring European glory to Celtic Park. The Greece International has one Champions League appearance to his credit, a late substitution against Barcelona last year while on loan from Premier League side Manchester City. Now, Samaras, is ready for a full Champions League experience with the ‘hoops’.

The first test for Celtic comes Wednesday night, when Danish side Aalborg BK travel to Scotland for matchday one of the group stage. After impressing in Celtic’s opening fixtures of the Scottish Premier League – five goals in three appearances – Samaras has not only found himself atop the Scottish leaderboards, but the Greek has managed to be a regular in Gordon Strachan’s starting eleven.
Despite success domestically, Samaras is aware of the pressures on the home side this evening. Not taking the travelling side for granted, the 23-year-old reflected on the threat AaB possesses.

“It’s our first game and it’s really important we take three points, but we know it will be very tough,” said Samaras.

“People think that, because we are playing a Danish team, it will be easy, but every club in the UEFA Champions League is a top club. We are all aware of how hard we must work to win the game. We have watched videos of Aalborg and we have to be careful against them.”
Celtic have had plenty of success on matchday one, and their formidable record at home is reason to expect another triumph for the lone Scottish representatives in this year’s Champions League.

“I really feel we’re ready for the game,” Samaras added. “Personally, I feel in great condition and I think the whole team are in really good shape, but form is not everything. I know Aalborg lost on Saturday, but I don’t think they will approach this match thinking about losing in the league. The advantage they have is that, because people speak about them being the weakest team in the group, there is no pressure on them. They can come here and play with complete freedom; we will have to be wary of that.”

The pressures of scoring could lie on the Greek who is yet to make a start in the Champions League. With Wednesday evening expected to be the curtain-raiser for Samaras in the Champions League, jitters could affect the SPL leading scorer. The Greek refuses to give an excuse for what seem to be inevitable nerves, having made it clear he has played in atmospheres quite similar to the one expected at Celtic Park come kickoff.

“Everyone knows the atmosphere at Celtic is incredible,” he said. “I’ve played at Olympiacos’ ground in Athens, in front of 70,000 people, and I think that’s the closest thing to what you feel at Celtic. Perhaps Aalborg won’t be used to that and it’s something that could play in our favour. Right now, our target is to reach the last 16 again and, to do that, it’s vital we get off to a winning start.”