Elena’s Mind Games – Chelsea is ‘just another game’ for astute Celtic head coach | OneFootball

Facing WSL champions Chelsea in the UEFA Women’s Champions League under the lights at Celtic Park “is just another game,” according to astute Celtic FC Women boss Elena Sadiku…

Elena Sadiku, Head Coach of Celtic, looks on prior to the UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Real Madrid CF and Celtic FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on October 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Chelsea rival Barcelona as favourites for UEFA Women’s Champions League

The Hoops’ third Champions League group stage encounter of the season takes place tonight at Celtic Park against Chelsea who have been crowned Women’s Super League winners on the last five occasions.

Although sitting fourth place in SWPL1 may seem like a turbulent start to the league campaign for Celtic, Sadiku’s Ghirls only sit two points off leaders Glasgow City at the top of the table thus showing how competitive the league has been this season. Realistically there are five title contenders this season – with the two Edinburgh sides looking the real deal and going the three Glasgow clubs Champions Celtic, league leaders Glasgow City and theRangers in eyeing the silverware currently situated in the boardroom at Celtic Park.

Players of Celtic pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Real Madrid CF and Celtic FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on October 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Celtic had to go to extra-time and penalties on Sunday

Progression to the SWPL Cup semi-final was secured on Sunday afternoon with Celtic winning on penalties against Glasgow City as the game took the full course of 120 minutes without a goal. As a result, Celtic have been drawn against theRangers which is pencilled in for Sunday 19 January.

Meanwhile, a mammoth seventh game in this season’s elite European club competition awaits Celtic this evening. It is worth remembering the Hoops had to negotiate three qualifiers to reach this stage.

October 17, 2024, Valdebebas, Madrid, SPAIN: Athenea del Castillo of Real Madrid in action during the UEFA WomenÃââ s Champions League, Group B, football match played between Real Madrid and Celtic FC at Alfredo Di Stefano stadium on October 17, 2024, in Valdebebas, Madrid, Spain. Photo Dennis Agyeman

Celtic’s first competitive match against English opposition

The contest in Glasgow’s East End will be Celtic FC Women’s first clash with an English side in their history adding an extra spice to the match. Scottish club’s records against English sides have not been impressive. In five previous encounters, English teams have come out on top every single time.

Meanwhile, Sonia Bompastor’s motoring Chelsea have not lost a match away from home in the Champions League in 11 matches. Nor have the Light Blues been defeated in the group stage of the competition in 14 games. To give you an example, Chelsea beat Arsenal comfortably away from home at the start of this season after Arsenal had hammered theRangers 6-0 in their Champions League qualifier (non champions route).

Amy Gallacher trains in Madrid ahead of the UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Real Madrid and Celtic. Photo Celtic FC Women

Elena Sadiku deliberately plays down the occasion

Despite these stats, and the rare opportunity for the women’s side to play under the lights at Paradise, Elena Sadiku believes the players and management have viewed the battle with Chelsea as just another game.

“This experience has taught us that this is just a normal game,” Celtic’s Swedish/Albania head coach said.

“The occasion is huge, but we still need to do what we can do which is playing football the way we play. We knew it would be tough, but we are going to learn, we are going to grow and we are going to get stronger as a team from playing here.”

“These girls deserve the best possible support. For them I would like 40,000 – I am aiming big! But I would like as many as possible into the ground. The girls have done so well and I would like them to have the support that they deserve.”

Colette Cavanagh of Celtic passes the ball under pressure from Filippa Angeldal of Real Madrid during the UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Real Madrid CF and Celtic FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on October 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Chelsea leave a handful of top stars in London

Chelsea incidentally as rotating their squad for this one and have left some of their top stars in London. They will face a Celtic side that had to go to extra-time and penalties at the weekend before seeing off Glasgow City in the Sky Sports Cup quarter final.  Celtic meet Chelsea again next midweek but before that the Ghirls play theRangers this Sunday in what is a really crucial match. These Ghirls are giving everything for Celtic so the least that they deserve is a decent number tonight to roar them on.

Caroline Weir of Real Madrid is challenged by Amy Gallacher and Natalie Ross of Celtic during the UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Real Madrid CF and Celtic FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on October 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Tickets Information and Where to Watch

Tickets for this evening’s UEFA Women’s Champions League match at Celtic Park between Celtic and Chelsea are available from the official Celtic FC website – click HERE.

Kick off for matchday three of Celtic FC Women’s Champions League encounter with Chelsea is 8:00pm. Live coverage of the match will be shown on TNT Sports 1 for Celts across the country to tune in and support the Ghirls. There’s audio on Celtic TV too and BBC Scotland usually have the game on the radio too.

Best place to watch it is Paradise on a night when history is made at Celtic Park.

COYGIG!

Conor Spence

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