Celtic boss Neil Lennon wants his players to show the football world that they are capable of competing in the Europa League. The Hoops have been given a second chance in Europe's second tier club competition after the club that beat them in the group stage play-off, FC Sion, were thrown out for fielding ineligible players.
Now Lennon wants to prove that Glasgow Celtic are a strong club and can match it with quality teams when they take on Atletico Madrid in their opener at the Vicente Calderon Stadium tonight.
"I'm looking for the players to express themselves and show some technical discipline as well," he said.
"I want us not to shoot ourselves in the foot, I want us not to get beat.
"But we are not going there to defend, because I think it is impossible to do that anyway.
"If you do that, you just invite pressure.
"With the players we have, I don't think it's in their mindset to do that anyway. But I want them to show they are capable of competing at this level.
"We've been very fortunate to get a second chance and for the lads who didn't play so well in Sion, it is a good chance of redemption.
"It's a chance to get their pride back.
"It's a Champions League-standard group. These are the games we want to play in to develop this team."
Celtic will also come up against French club Stade Rennes and Italian outfit Udinese in Group I of the tournament.
