Soccer

Chris Sutton warns Celtic fans of Borussia Monchengladbach threat

Brendan Rodgers with Kolo Toure after Celtic's Champions League draw with Manchester City at Celtic Park 
Brendan Rodgers with Kolo Toure after Celtic's Champions League draw with Manchester City at Celtic Park  Brendan Rodgers with Kolo Toure after Celtic's Champions League draw with Manchester City at Celtic Park 

FORMER Celtic striker Chris Sutton has warned the Parkhead faithful their side might struggle to reach the heights they did against Manchester City when they return to Champions League action on Wednesday.

Brendan Rodgers' team put on a thrilling display at the end of last month as they held Pep Guardiola's Premier League leaders to a 3-3 draw in Glasgow.

The breathless affair did much to restore the Hoops' European reputation following the 7-0 drubbing they sustained away to Barcelona in their Group C opener.

They will now look to build on the point they picked up against City when they host German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach at Celtic Park this midweek.

But BT Sport's Scottish football expert Sutton believes the Celtic support would be wrong to look on the Bundesliga side as no-hopers, even if Andre Schubert's side sit bottom of the Scots' section after losing both their games so far.

He said: "Wednesday is a must-not-lose game because if they do, it would put enormous pressure on Celtic going into the reverse fixture in Germany.

"Since my day, the club has not travelled particularly well in Europe so this is an enormously dangerous game.

"Monchengladbach are saying that of their three forwards - Josip Drmic, Thorgan Hazard and Raffael - only one of them might be fit. But this is a good team.

"If Celtic aren't at their best it will be a difficult night. Make no mistake about that.

"Celtic raised the bar so high against Manchester City and everyone is expecting them to do it again this time.

"But I don't think they are at the level where we can be sure that is the performance they are going to give.

"That is what they will be striving for but it wasn't so long ago that Brendan Rodgers was saying we are still a long way from where we want to be. I think if you ask Brendan that question again, even after the City display, he will still say his side are a long way from where they want to be.

"But if they can produce another performance like they did last time out, they will win the game.

"I don't know any of the players personally but I know one million per cent that they will not be getting carried away with that City result.

"They will take confidence from it but they will also think back to last season in the Europa League to know it can go the other way too."