Source: Team_Talk
Levein ready for exciting finish
The Tangerines entertain leaders Celtic on Sunday with plenty at stake for both teams.[LNB]Gordon Strachan's men will either be looking to extend their lead at the top or possibly trying to knock Rangers off the summit when they arrive on Tayside, while United are scrapping to get closer to Hearts in the race for Europe.[LNB]With top-six places, relegation and the battle for Europe all being hotly contested, Levein predicts all issues will go to the wire.[LNB]He said: "I will be expecting to Celtic to be on the top of their game but they won't be relishing coming up here, that's for sure.[LNB]"There are nine league games to go and an awful lot of play for for everyone in the division.[LNB]"At this stage of the season, you often have teams drifting with nothing really to play for but in every part of the league, there is something at stake.[LNB]"The title is a right battle between the Old Firm, while there are about five teams thinking about Europe and then a scrap at the bottom end.[LNB]"The level of competition is fierce, so I don't think Celtic - or anyone else - will be thinking they have any easy games in the foreseeable future."[LNB]United expect former Tannadice player Willo Flood to feature following his move in January but Levein is not spending too much time second-guessing Strachan's team selection.[LNB]He said: "If there is one game in which Willo might play then it is probably this one.[LNB]"Mind you, Celtic have just won a cup final and probably don't need to rest anybody, so there may not be wholesale changes in their side from last weekend.[LNB]"So if Willo doesn't play then we will just have to face (Shunsuke) Nakamura, (Aiden) McGeady, (Scott) Brown, (Paul) Hartley or some other international players."[LNB]Celtic beat Rangers in the the Co-Operative Insurance Cup final last Sunday so will travel to Tayside buoyed by lifting the first silverware of the season.[LNB]Levein knows Strachan has his players primed for the final run-in but insists United possess enough quality to knock their title bid off course.[LNB]He said: "What Celtic do is not an issue for me; it's how my players approach the game which will decide what we get out of it.[LNB]"I'm happy with the way we're playing at the moment.[LNB]"We need to tighten up a bit defensively because we've been a bit slack at times.[LNB]"Defending properly is the first thing I'm looking for because if we do that, we'll have a right good chance of taking the points.[LNB]"It's a game we're more than capable of winning. We've done well against Celtic this season, the players have confidence in themselves and it's one we've been looking forward to.[LNB]"I can tell a lot about players from the way they are in training. Everyone is in a positive frame of mind and ready to go."[LNB][LNB]
