The prolific frontman is confident the Hoops will finish the job at Parkhead next week.
Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths in action
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has spoken confidently of his team’s ability and backed the Hoops to progress against FK Astana, in quotes published by the Herald Scotland.
The 25-year old grabbed a fine equaliser in the late stages of Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier to give Brendan Rodgers’ men the advantage ahead of the second leg at Parkhead next week.
“Everybody said this team was in the Champions League last season and they would be too strong and good for us, but we showed that we can cope with that and on any given day we are a match for anybody,” said Griffiths.
Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths (R) celebrates scoring
“They didn’t create many clear-cut chances – they had a lot of corners, a lot of long throw-ins, but apart from that, Craig Gordon hasn’t had much to do. I think next week we’ll definitely finish the game off.”
Celtic were under the cosh for much of the game in Kazakhstan but they showed their resilience to concede just the one goal and to find an equaliser in the dying stages.
Rodgers was faced with a defensive crisis ahead of the game but should be able to call upon the services of veteran centre-back Kolo Toure next week.
Kolo Toure
The Hoops have failed to qualify for the Champions League since the 2013-14 campaign and if they navigate a way past Astana, they will still need to triumph over two legs against a tricky opponent at the play-off stage.
Signings haven’t been as forthcoming as Rodgers would have liked this summer, with Moussa Dembele the sole signing until Toure’s capture last week, and that has somewhat hampered Celtic’s chances.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele in action with Lincoln’s Bernardo Lopes
Despite that, Rodgers is seemingly starting to pass his ideas onto the squad and with a few more adjustments, the Parkhead faithful could soon be in for a treat.