Massimo Donati believes Lazio must cope with Celtic’s intensity in their imminent Champions League meeting and feels that Kyogo Furuhashi is the most dangerous player for Maurizio Sarri’s side.
Donati is a former Celtic midfielder who played for the Scottish club for three seasons, scoring five goals in 50 appearances.
Celtic visit Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico today in a must-win game for the Biancocelesti. Lazio secured a 2-1 victory in Scotland in the first leg in October thanks to a late Pedro goal. So, what should Sarri’s men expect when they meet Celtic again today?
“Rodgers’ team don’t change their attitude when they play away,” Donati told Tuesday’s printed edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (page 11).
“They rely on intensity pressing high up the pitch. They didn’t manage their energies well in the first-leg game and they were punished by a late Lazio winner. Celtic want to finish third, but Lazio want to get to the [Champions League] Round of 16 and they will be willing to bounce back after losing against Salernitana. Away from home, the Scottish won’t have that plus given by their stadium.”
Who is the most dangerous Celtic player?
“Their striker Furuhashi, he moves a lot, he is fast and he scored in the first leg.”
Donati continued by explaining how he ended up at Celtic in 2007.
“I was 26 and I had just returned to Milan from Atalanta. Andriy Shevchenko was an owner’s friend, and he offered me the chance to join Celtic. I didn’t know the club much but understood their popularity worldwide when I arrived.
“I scored a goal at Celtic Park against Shakhtar which was decisive to qualify for the Champions League Round of 16. I won a Scottish title and the Scottish League Cup. It was the best moment of my career. I returned to Italy in 2009, at Bari but then in 2016, I went back to Scotland, to start coaching in Hamilton’s youth teams. I took the UEFA license and at the same time, I was still playing in St. Mirren. To become a coach in Scotland is part of my plans.”
Donati, 42, played 314 games in Serie A scoring 14 goals. He played for Atalanta, Milan, Parma, Torino, Sampdoria, Messina, Bari, Palermo and Hellas Verona in Italy’s top flight.
Lazio sit second in the Champions League Group E, one point clear of third-placed Feyenoord and one below leaders Atletico Madrid who they will meet away in the final group stage game in two weeks.