Celtic 3-0 Alashkert: Rosenborg a 'great' threat - Kristoffer Ajer
Celticâs Norwegian defender, Kristoffer Ajer, has warned they face a âgreatâ team in Rosenborg in next weekâs Champions League qualifier.
Brendan Rodgersâ side recorded a second 3-0 win over Alashkert, despite Jozo Simunovicâs early red card.
But Ajer says Rosenborg will pose a much greater threat than the Armenians.
âRosenborg are a really tough opponent with a lot of quality players,â he said. âIt will be a really tough game home and away.â
Celtic 3-0 Alashkert: Rodgersâ side power through despite red card[1]
Moussa Dembele scored twice either side of Simunovicâs 11th-minute red card, with James Forrest adding a third before half-time.
That set up a re-match with Rosenborg, who Celtic scraped past 1-0[2] on aggregate last season, in the second qualifying round.
âWhen you play Champions League qualifiers, you meet quality opponents,â the 20-year-old said.
âI know Rosenborg really well. Last year, they beat Ajax in the last round to go through [to the Europa League group stage], so they are a really top side and can really hurt you if youâre not 100% up for the game.
âRosenborg are a typical Scandinavian team. They are well organised and have a good squad, so I think thatâs their biggest strength.
âItâs a well built team with a manager that has been there for many years.â
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers knows what to expect from Rosenborg in a game for which Simunovic will now be suspended.
âThey have made some changes, but their system is very much the same,â he told BBC Scotland. âThey play 4-3-3, like to pass the ball.
âI think theyâll come here, similar to last year, and be very compact, very tight and try and not concede.â
Rodgers suggested that his teamâs âappetite and hunger in the game was exceptionalâ as they beat Alashkert despite Simunovicâs red card leaving them a man short.
âIt was a very good win for us considering we played most of the game with 10 men,â he said.
âWe got three goals and could have had a few more. We dominated the game with 10 men.â
Of the red card, Rodgers said: âIt could have gone either way. I can see why the ref sent him off.
âIt was a high boot on the player. In European football, when your foot is that high, you can expect a red card.â
French striker Dembele limped off in the second half, but Rodgers is hopeful that the injury is not too serious ahead of the first leg against Rosenborg on Wednesday at Celtic Park.
âWeâll find out in the next couple of days,â he added. âHe just felt a bit of tightness in his hamstring.â
^ Celtic 3-0 Alashkert: Rodgersâ side power through despite red card (www.bbc.co.uk)
^ Celtic scraped past 1-0 (www.bbc.co.uk)
Celtic 3-0 Alashkert: Rosenborg a 'great' threat â Kristoffer Ajer was originally published on 365 Football
