Kairat Almaty boss Rafael Urazbakhtin has given his take on his team’s display after their 0-0 draw with Celtic at Celtic Park.
Kairat had a few decent chances in a game where they spent long spells chasing the ball. Urazbakhtin said he was a bit disappointed they didn’t take one of those chances but praised his players for their effort and discipline.
The draw sets up a tight second leg in Kazakhstan. Urazbakhtin knows Celtic will be a threat, but he’s confident his team will rise to the challenge and leave everything out on the pitch in front of their home support.
He also spoke about how much a strong home crowd can help, saying Celtic had great backing in Glasgow and he’s hoping the fans in Almaty can give his team the same kind of boost.
He said: (Tribuna), “Naturally (we’re disappointed). Of course, we wanted to score from the chances we had.
“We told the guys that opportunities would come and that we needed to try to take them, because, against a team like Celtic, you won’t get many chances. Yes, it did not work out, but that is okay.
“We now face a long trip, recovery, and at the moment, I can’t tell you exactly what will happen in the return leg. The only thing I can promise is that the guys will fight the same way and leave everything on the pitch, and, of course, we are counting on the support of our home crowd.
“Their influence and encouragement, just like Celtic’s support at their home ground, will really help us.”
Urazbakhtin’s calm comments show that Kairat are heading into the second leg with quiet belief. They didn’t score in Glasgow, but they kept their shape, limited Celtic’s chances, and gave themselves something to work with.
The manager’s trust in his team’s effort and attitude will be important as they try to use home advantage and get over the line. Kairat know how strong Celtic can be, but they’ve already shown they can make it a tough game.
A lot will come down to how well they recover from the long trip and get ready for what will be a tense and demanding match. Fitness, focus, and a bit of quality could decide who goes through.
For Celtic, it’s a clear warning that the job isn’t done yet. Kairat are up for the fight, and they’ll have a crowd behind them that believes they can pull it off.
