Source: Team_Talk
Strachan won't put players on spot
The Glasgow giants have never faced each other in a penalty shootout in a major cup final, although they have had recent experiences in winning games from the spot.[LNB]Rangers beat Dundee United on penalties in last season's Co-operative Insurance final, while Strachan's men overcame the Tannadice side in the same manner in this season's semi-final.[LNB]After the game ended 0-0 after extra-time, the whole Celtic side, including goalkeeper Artur Boruc, were required to take the walk from the halfway line.[LNB]And apart from Glenn Loovens, they all scored, with Scott McDonald netting twice in an epic 11-10 win.[LNB]Strachan is bracing himself for a repeat on Sunday but refused to place too much emphasis on the practising of spot-kicks ahead of the game.[LNB]"The teams are well-matched at the moment; the league table tells you that," he said.[LNB]"So penalties could happen.[LNB]"But we didn't practise the last time we ended up taking penalties.[LNB]"I don't think you can reconstruct what you actually go through when you're taking a penalty."[LNB]Strachan will have spent much of this week trying to find the solution to the scoring problems besetting off-form strikers Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras, who have failed to find the net in the last 25 games between them.[LNB]The Celtic boss, however, insists the current striking problem is just one part of the ongoing maintenance of his side.[LNB]He said: "There is always a section of your team that is getting looked at closely.[LNB]"At the moment, it's our strikers.[LNB]"It was the goalie for a while and he dealt with it.[LNB]"It was the back four for a while and they dealt with that.[LNB]"Midfield players were not scoring; they dealt with it by scoring.[LNB]"So we try our best not to put the strikers in the doldrums.[LNB]"The one thing that can help a striker is that the team is still at the top of the league."[LNB]Strachan insist he will not read too much in to tomorrow's result, should Celtic emerge from Hampden with the trophy.[LNB]Asked if it would have any impact on the title race, which his side lead by three points, Strachan quipped: "If we win we'll say yes - if we get beat we'll say no.[LNB]"I think the team that wins it will feel better about themselves for at least a week, until you play the next league game.[LNB]"And you saw in the last round of league games that a result comes from nowhere and it all changes."[LNB]Both managers will be desperate to win, but there is unlikely to be an outbreak of the kind of bitterness that often exists between the two sets of fans.[LNB]Strachan said: "It is exciting and I am up against someone I admire and respect. I think you can tell that from the last Old Firm game because we managed a conversation during the game.[LNB]"I don't think it was the heat of battle, not during that fixture, that's for sure. It wasn't even lukewarm, the heat of battle.[LNB]"So we had the chance to chat a wee bit. There was nothing else going on, we felt we might as well."[LNB]Strachan's relationship with Smith began when they were players at Dundee United and Dundee, respectively.[LNB]"We used to meet each other in certain establishments in Dundee," said Strachan.[LNB]"I would not say we were huge friends. I don't think (manager) Jim McLean would allow United players to be pally with Dundee players. He kind of kept everyone apart."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
