Samaras: I don't see the problem

28 November 2012 08:46
Georgios Samaras is bemused by the consternation and controversy which has followed Celtic's 1-0 defeat by Inverness at the weekend.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon dramatically threatened to quit the club after an altercation with several disgruntled supporters during the SPL game. Caley's first league win in the east end of Glasgow was met by a chorus of boos by the home fans but despite the champions having dropped 17 points - four less than in the whole of last season - they remain on course to retain their title and can look forward to a Champions League Group G decider against Spartak Moscow next week. The Greece striker said:

"I really don't see the problem.

"I know we are having ups and downs, I know there are negatives but I always see the positive things.

"We have one game against Spartak to get through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

"We are in the semi-finals of the Scottish Communities League Cup.

"We are first in the SPL and on Saturday we play our first Scottish Cup game so I don't see the problem, what else can we do?

"Everyone knows it is a tough period with a lot of games, weekend and midweek but I still don't see the problem.

"We are the best team in the country. Everybody knows that. We proved it last year and we are going to prove it this year as well." Hearts manager John McGlynn is wary of a Celtic backlash. He said:

"If they've maybe taken their eye off the ball a wee bit in defeats like Saturday, they end up coming out on the Wednesday night and in one of those situations taking five goals off St Johnstone.

"Sometimes it just takes a wee kick up the backside to bring you back down to earth.

"There's been a reaction to their defeat which will certainly have them fired up.

"When they come to Tynecastle they know they have to be at the top of their game. (The Inverness loss) will reinforce that.

"That's something we have to be very aware of and be prepared for."

Should ninth-placed Hearts manage to again frustrate Lennon's Celtic and earn a fourth home win of the season, McGlynn's men would climb to within four points of the Bhoys.

"We'd have probably taken that at the start of the season, four points behind Celtic entering December," McGlynn added.

"We have to win to do that. It could go 10 points, I'm not daft, but we've got an opportunity to close that gap.

"Everyone would be delighted if we were to do that, because it may well be there's a new leader at the top of the table going into December.

"It's good for the SPL. It's good there's competition in the SPL."

Source: team_talk