Not surprisingly, Celtic centre-half Trusty views that go to to Croatia as significantly “enormous” for the Glasgow membership.
“Each sport is large,” he stated. “We’re assured in ourselves and in our skill. We all know the ability we possess and it is actually is in our fingers.
“We are able to compete with anyone. After we’re on it, and enjoying our sport, I feel we have proven to you guys, but additionally to ourselves, that we will play.
“I feel we’re actually assured going into any sport, whether or not it is league or Champions League, so we’re in a great spot.”
Who would have thought after match-day two, when Celtic suffered a 7-1 humiliation away to Borussia Dortmund, that they’d now be undefeated of their final three Champions League video games?
To place that into perspective, their final such unbeaten streak was in 2012, unfold over two campaigns, and they’re unbeaten in 5 such video games at house having misplaced eight of their earlier 9 at Celtic Park.
No shock that Johnston views it as “undoubtedly a step up” from final season, when Celtic completed fourth of their group behind Atletico Madrid, Lazio and Feyenoord in Rodgers’ first season again as supervisor.
“I feel we have now matured,” he stated. “I feel that simply comes with the territory of it being the second yr below Brendan now. There’s much more consolation within the system and within the gamers. Everybody is aware of their roles very well.
“These outcomes we had earlier within the marketing campaign have actually given us confidence that, when the going will get powerful, we will defend in a block of 4-4-2. We are able to get by means of these troublesome moments. We are able to additionally use this floor to our benefit and play free-flowing, attacking soccer.
“We do not should be scared to be who we’re. That is one thing we have undoubtedly proven this yr and realized. It is undoubtedly a step up from final yr.”
With a house sport in opposition to a Younger Boys facet who sit backside of the desk and not using a level earlier than visiting Villa Park, Johnston believes Celtic are in a powerful place to at the least attain the play-off stage.
Certainly, he praised the facet’s resilience after recovering from centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers’ personal purpose to attract with the spectacular Belgian champions.
“I feel we have proven, particularly right here at Celtic Park, that we could be a actually troublesome staff to beat, so it is vital that we preserve that confidence and do not let that rock us,” he stated. “I feel we confirmed that it did not actually rock us given the best way we carried out within the second half.”
Johnston expects “a troublesome environment” in Zagreb in opposition to a facet one place and one level behind.
“On the similar time, we will construct on what we have achieved in earlier away matches, like Atalanta, the place we will go to those troublesome grounds, dig in and hopefully claw out one other end result. If we do this, we go away ourselves in a extremely good place,” he added.
