Celtic: 'Biggest game' ensures no complacency - Charlie Mulgrew

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Mulgrew looks happy during training ahead of Wednesday's tie
Image caption,

Mulgrew looks happy during training ahead of Wednesday's tie

Charlie Mulgrew says there will be no complacency against Helsingborgs as it is the most important game of his own and his team-mates' Celtic careers.

The Swedes visit Glasgow already 2-0 down from the first leg of their Champions League play-off.

"It is probably the biggest," Mulgrew said when asked how it rated against other games in which he has played.

"It is massive for the club and all the players involved, but we will be approaching it as just another game."

Celtic are strong favourites to complete an aggregate victory and take their place in the money-spinning group stages.

"Nobody in that dressing-room thinks the tie is done, not at all," he said.

"The manager has drilled that home to us that we can't get complacent - it is only half-time and there is a long way to go.

"Of course the mind is wandering, thinking of who you could play, but you have to try your best not to do that and to do the job first.

"We are not thinking we are 2-0 up. It will be in the back of our mind somewhere, but we have to go out and do the job and try to win the game.

Image caption,

Lennon says he has deliberately kept the build-up low key

"We are playing at Celtic Park and we will go and look to win the game and hopefully we will do that.

"We won't get sucked into the hype too much. We know there is still a job to be done and we expect a hard game."

Manager Neil Lennon stressed injury concerns over defender Thomas Rogne, skipper Scott Brown, striker Georgios Samaras and midfielder Kris Commons, who all missed Saturday's 4-2 win away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premier League.

"I am sitting here a lot more comfortable than I would be if it was 0-0 or 1-1, or we were chasing the game," he said.

"We are at home, but we know the tie is not over yet.

"I am not getting ahead of myself. We still have to qualify against a very good, motivated Helsingborg team.

"I can't look too far ahead. Football has a funny way of kicking you when you think you have cracked it.

"We have prepared as low-key as we possibly can for this game because we know there is a lot of hype surrounding it and we are trying to protect the players from it.

"Really, we just want to get the game started."

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