Kairat Almaty’s belief that they can upset Celtic in Champions League Playoff | OneFootball

Kairat Almaty midfielder Valery Gromyko insists that a surprise league defeat ahead of their long journey to Glasgow will not affect their belief that they can upset Celtic in the Champions League play-offs…

Players of FC Kairat pose for a team photo prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 first qualifying round first leg match between Olimpija and Kairat Almaty at Stadion Stozice on July 08, 2025 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Kairat aiming to make history

Celtic welcome Kairat tomorrow night, with the visitors aiming to make history as the first Kazakh side to reach the Champions League group stage. However, their preparations took a major setback at the weekend as they squandered a two-goal lead at home to Yelimay Semey, eventually losing 3-2 in a rare league defeat.

But Belarus international Gromyko reckons the defeat will not hinder Kairat’s mindset going into the two-legged encounter with the Scottish champions.

“We approach every game with the same attitude”

Speaking via The Herald, he said: “I have no concerns that the defeat will impact our mood for playing against Celtic. We approach every game with the same attitude.”

Ljubljana, Slovenia, July 8th 2025: Egor Sorokin of Kairat Almaty C in action against Marko Brest of Olimpija Ljubljana CD during the UEFA Champions League, First qualifying round, 1st leg, match between Olimpija Ljubljana and Kairat Almaty at Stadium Stozice, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Natasa Kupljenik / SPP RAxMEX Photo: Natasa Kupljenik/SPP

“Although the Celtic game is very important, we also want to become champions of Kazakhstan, so it wasn’t as if we lost focus or anything. We made defensive mistakes, which cost us goals. We were poor in our concentration levels on the pitch and need to improve on that.

“We have a tough schedule with two games a week and long journeys”

“We have a tough schedule with two games a week and long journeys, but I don’t believe that had anything to do with the defeat. The football gods see everything and punished us.”

Kairat will actually have to cope without their influential midfielder Gromyko tomorrow night as he is unavailable through suspension.

S Jorginho of Kairat celebrates during third qualifying round of UEFA Champions League football match between SK Slovan Bratislava and Kairat Almaty. Bratislava, Slovakia, August 12, 2025. IMAGO / Branislav Racko

However, Russian defender Yegor Sorokin and Belarusian international Alyaksandr Martynovich have been cleared to travel after receiving UK visas, easing earlier concerns that bureaucratic issues might prevent their involvement.

Kairat’s Sporting Director Askar Yesimov outlined: “All of our players have now received visas. We started working on this issue even before the return match with Slovan Bratislava because we believed that we would advance further.”

Players of Kairat celebrate during third qualifying round of UEFA Champions League football match between SK Slovan Bratislava and Kairat Almaty. Bratislava, Slovakia, August 12, 2025. IMAGO / Branislav Racko

“Valery Gromyko cannot play in the first leg due to an accumulation of yellow cards”

“Our Football Association and the Kazakhstan Ministry of Tourism and Sports have done a great job. UEFA also took control of the situation, so there were no problems. However, we have been informed by UEFA that Valery Gromyko cannot play in the first leg due to an accumulation of yellow cards.”

Conor Spence

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