Group stages in sight for Mowbray

18 July 2009 11:55
Parkhead will host the first leg on 28/29 July, with the return game played on 4/5 August. If the Hoops manage to get past Dynamo, who lie seventh in the Premier Liga after 13 games, they will be drawn against either Arsenal, Lyon, Stuttgart, Fiorentina or Atletico Madrid, who are the seeds in the next round. However, Mowbray knows the importance of qualifying through to the group stages both financially and in terms of prestige. "That's where we want to play year-in, year-out," the former Hibernian and West Brom boss said. "We will be ready to go and compete against tough opposition and hopefully we will come through it. "But if we do come through it, then we still have another tough obstacle to overcome before we get to the group stages. "Nobody is thinking it is going to be easy but we will see what happens. "They are 13 games into their season and I'm sure they will be a quality side. "Russian teams are very fit, methodical and organised and I'm sure they will give us a tough test but I'm sure they are looking at the draw and thinking it is a big ask for them." Mowbray, having returned from a pre-season jaunt to Australia earlier in the week, defied conventional thinking by claiming a home game in the first leg suited him. "It was going to be what it was going to be," the Hoops boss said. "But in a strange sort of way, while you would normally like to play the second game of the tie at home, after the travelling we have done it is a benefit that we will be at home first." Mowbray, who revealed he has closed the door on a move for Hamilton midfielder James McCarthy, welcomed Landry N'Guemo who signed on a year-long loan from French club Nancy. The Parkhead club have the option of making the move permanent at the end of the season if the 23-year-old Cameroon international impresses. "We are happy to have him on board", Mowbray said. "He creates competition in a part of the field where we are a bit lighter than last year with Shunsuke Nakamura and Paul Hartley moving on. "I am looking forward to working with him and seeing how he gets on." N'Guemo admitted the prospect of playing in the Champions League was a big draw. "Celtic play in the Champions League regularly so that was a reason for coming here," he said. "There were other teams interested in me but pre-season preparation is important to me so I was keen to sign for Celtic. "I have to prove myself this year but the idea is to stay after that." Mowbray will run the rule over 26-year-old Le Havre striker Amadou Alassane who is on trial this week. The Hoops boss said: "He is here for a few days. "We will assess his technique and his ability to control and manipulate the ball."

Source: Team_Talk