What Celtic must do to avoid worst fears coming true as Champions League beckons

The scale of Celtic’s advantage against LASK Linz is undeniable. A 3-0 victory at Celtic Park last week has put the Scottish champions within touching distance of the competition’s lucrative league phase. Benjamin Nygren and a Camilo Durán brace gave Celtic a handsome lead and delivered the sort of performance that suggested they may be a different European proposition from the side eliminated by Kairat Almaty at the same stage last season.

But European football has a habit of punishing complacency. LASK return to the Raiffeisen Arena knowing they require something close to a miracle to overturn the deficit, but they will also know Celtic have been vulnerable defensively at times in the opening weeks of the campaign. O’Neill’s task is therefore psychological as much as tactical: instil a job not yet done mindset in his players.

The league-phase draw is scheduled for Thursday, when Celtic will discover their opponents at the game’s highest level so long as they avoid throwing away their healthy first leg advantage in Linz. That’s despite O’Neill dampening any sense of inevitability, which should serve his side well in what could be a very different examination from the one they faced in Glasgow.

“Honestly, I swear to you, there will be no complacency,” he said. “The players know it, they absolutely do know that we’re playing against a really good side. They’re capable of scoring with a lot of pace up front. They’re strong, athletic and even their smaller lads are very, very quick. So we’ve got our work cut out.”

The Austrian champions will have to gamble and attack from the first whistle. Celtic do not. That distinction could define the evening. LASK’s route back into the tie is simple: score early, unsettle Celtic and turn the opening 45 minutes into a test of nerve. They carry a dangerous attacking threat in Moses Usor and Samuel Adeniran, as was displayed in the first leg.

Celtic, however, should have little reason to abandon the qualities that carried them to such a commanding victory. Nygren was excellent on the night, as was new signing Mika Baur, while Durán provided precisely the ruthless finishing that European knockout football demands. The Colombian’s “world-class” brace was evidence of the attacking investment made during the summer and of the considerable difference a natural goalscorer can make.

There was another, perhaps equally significant, positive to emerge from the first meeting. With Alistair Johnston sidelined through injury, 19-year-old Colby Donovan stepped into the right-back position and produced a display of tremendous composure. His range of passing, energy and defensive discipline offered O’Neill another option in an area where Celtic have been searching for stability.

“If it was in pure heart alone, Colby would be the captain,” O’Neill said. “I suppose any young Scot that can handle an occasion like that, I think it’s lovely. Honestly, it’s really nice to see.”

The wider context should not be forgotten. Celtic are attempting to return to Europe’s premier competition after missing out last term, when Kairat ended their hopes on penalties. The financial rewards of qualification are enormous, estimated to be worth £40million, but so too is the significance for Scottish football. A place in the 36-team league phase offers Celtic the opportunity to strengthen the club’s position in the transfer market, further distancing themselves from the rest of the Premiership.

That is why O’Neill has been so keen to guard against any suggestion that the tie is already over. The manager has imposed a social media ban on his players ahead of the return leg, ensuring attention remains fixed on the job rather than the plaudits that followed the first-leg success.

“I’ve already told the players to stay away from social media – don’t be scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. There’s no need for it,” he warned.

There are still selection questions to resolve. Celtic are already without Johnston, while Auston Trusty has emerged as a doubt after missing training on the eve of the match. O’Neill has other options, including Liam Scales and Dane Murray, but their defensive resources are being tested at precisely the point of the season when the margin for error is smallest.

For LASK, there is little value in being conservative. Dietmar Kühbauer’s men have demonstrated that they can score goals domestically, and their aggressive approach will be aimed at making Celtic uncomfortable from the outset. The Austrians have earned their place in this play-off and should not be dismissed simply because of the scoreline in Glasgow.

Yet Celtic have earned the right to approach the match with confidence. Three goals without reply provides a substantial cushion, and it demonstrated that they possess considerable attacking quality. The key will be managing the game rather than merely defending their aggregate lead.

An early goal for the visitors would almost certainly extinguish LASK’s hopes of mounting a miraculous comeback. That should be Celtic’s main objective. For O’Neill, this is another important examination of the progress made since returning to Celtic. Qualification requires professionalism as well as flair.

Last season’s disappointment in Kazakhstan remains a reminder of the fine margins involved. Celtic should have learned that lesson. According to Kühbauer, LASK will “throw the kitchen sink at them” with the help of the home crowd because they have no alternative. Celtic must retain their composure and ensure they do not surrender their advantage.

They have done the difficult part. Now comes the professional part. The prize is too significant for anything less.

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