Source: Team_Talk
Soma wants to focus on the action
The build-up to Thursday night's Europa League contest has been dominated by a 25-year-old controversy over their last meeting when the Austrians succeeded after a third match at Old Trafford.
The Austrians lost 3-0 at Celtic Park to apparently exit the European Cup Winners' Cup on aggregate but were awarded a replay because a bottle was thrown on to the park from the old 'Jungle' enclosure.
UEFA's decision came despite Rapid being fined for falsely claiming Rudi Weinhoffer had been struck by the missile.
Former Celtic players including current first-team coach Peter Grant have spoken about their lingering sense of injustice after they watched Rapid reach the final, where they lost to Everton.
The Austrians' 1-0 victory in front of more than 50,000 fans in Manchester was further marred by two fan attacks on their players, including current manager Peter Pacult.
And while Soma expects a hostile atmosphere at Parkhead, the centre-back insists Rapid must focus on the present and not the past.
"I was only just born when it happened," the 29-year-old said.
"We are here to play the game and here with the team of 2009. We are here to make our names and we want to make it as good as possible."
The Norwegian added: "It's a totally different game now. What happened back then, happened back then.
"You can still understand people are not happy about what happened. I guess I would be upset myself if I lost a final because there needed to be a third game.
"But on the other hand you can't really blame any other teams. There were some people in the crowd who made it happen.
"But we can't think too much about it. We have to play the game here and hopefully get a good result."
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell this week pleaded for calm among the club's supporters.
Soma, who had a brief spell at West Ham as a youngster, added: "I guess it's going to be a big fight, playing at their ground and I expect there's going to be a lot of people in the stands supporting them.
"But we just have to clear the first wave and then we can start on our own game.
"We just have to cope with what comes with it. For us, it's here and now that matters and we just have to make the best of it."
Rapid knocked out Aston Villa in the qualifiers and beat Hamburg 3-0 in their opening group game while Celtic let slip a lead to lose at Hapoel Tel Aviv.
But Soma considers Celtic one of the contenders to lift the trophy.
"It's a great team, they play in the same kind of league we do with two very good teams," he said. "They are good enough to win the whole lot."
