Source: Team_Talk
Dinamo boss taking nothing for granted
New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of Milan four years ago when they raced to a stunning 3-0 half-time lead over the English club in the Istanbul showpiece.
However, the Italian club surrendered three goals inside seven minutes after the break leading to an unbelievable comeback victory for Liverpool on penalties.
Despite his side leading 1-0 from last Wednesday's first leg at Celtic Park against a club who have not won away from home in Europe in six years and have never overturned a first-leg deficit when the second game has been away from Glasgow, Kobelev said:
"I'll be disappointed if we don't go through.
"I remember AC Milan were leading Liverpool 3-0 at half-time in
the Champions League final and then lost it.
"After the game, Carlo Ancelotti was asked what he thought about it and after a while he said, 'I feel nothing'.
"So, of course I will be disappointed but it is all about the football and football is unpredictable.
"And before a game, it is better not to think about if you will be sacked if you lose or anything like that.
"The game will not be over if Dinamo score. There are 90 minutes in a game and we need to play all the match."
To stress his point that the winning of the tie is not a foregone conclusion, Kobelev added: "All runs have to come to an end sometime.
"At Dinamo, we had not won in 20 years in the Luzhniki Stadium, where Spartak and CSKA play, but we did last year.
"So runs can come to an end but I just hope Celtic's run doesn't come to an end tomorrow night."
Aside from an interesting analogy which perhaps revealed a sense of insecurity, Kobelev was cautious and diplomatic at Dinamo's pre-match press conference at the club's training base on the outskirts of Moscow.
Asked if Celtic's propensity to attack could work in his favour, Kobelev replied: "The first leg was a very difficult game and we have to take this game very seriously.
"It is hard to predict how it will go but we will try our best.
"The second leg at home isn't always an advantage.
"It is if you win the first game but it is about the aggregate result.
"Of course it is important to keep a clean sheet but we want to defend first and also create something going forward."
When pressed to respond to Celtic defender Gary Caldwell's assertion that the Hoops are the better team, the Dinamo coach, who has no fitness worries, retorted: "He has his own opinions but we will show what we can do tomorrow."
Had Caldwell's comments been disrespectful?
"No," replied Kobelev.
When asked if any Celtic players could improve Dinamo, Kobelev said: "I don't want to name names, because if I say, for example, a defender's name, then my defenders will think I want to buy a defender.
"But Celtic are all good players and they would strengthen any team in Europe."
Dinamo captain Dmitry Khokhlov, who missed the first game through suspension, was similarly cautious, adding: "I didn't really see any weaknesses in the Celtic team when I watched the game last week, so we will have to do our best."
Dinamo Moscow Evens, Draw 11/5, Celtic 11/5
