Catalan midfielder Marc Crosas scored Celtic's goal in the 2-1 defeat from Sunderland at Celtic Park on Saturday and showed some of the midfield drive that his boss said the team lacked against Moscow Dinamo. Crosas was an unused substitute against the Russian side last Wednesday but he's hoping that his display against the Black Cats might just have pushed his name to the forefront of the manager's thoughts as he looks to the second leg of the Champions League qualifier in the Russian capital. This is a game Celtic must win and Crosas thinks that it is a game they can win.
"It was good to play against Sunderland, to play and score a goal." said Celtic's number 17. "But we've only played one official game this season and that came too early for us, maybe. Every game, for me, it's important to show the manager that I'm here, that I want to be an important player for the team."
The ex-Barcelona player's goal was a terrific volley from the edge of the box but he modestly shrugged off the compliments on the strike. "I was lucky to score my goal, but I don't think that matters." he said. "It was one game more for us, for me and all the team. Of course the most important game for us was Wednesday but that is gone, so we had to play this game, a friendly. Friendly games are just for us to improve our work, on top of what we do during the week with the manager at Lennoxtown."
Massimo Donati was perhaps a surprise starter against Dinamo last week but Crosas insists that the Italian, who looked to be on his way out of Celtic Park, is a fantastic player who can bring a lot to the team. "Massimo is a great player." said Crosas. "I didn't understand why last season he didn't play with us. I know he's a great player and if he's in front of me in the team I just have to keep working and try to change the manager's mind. It's not in my hands. He's a very good player but I have to work."
Scott Brown played for an hour against Sunderland in his first game of the season and he will travel with the squad to Moscow but the manager's comments following the game on Saturday would suggest that last year's Player of the Year is unlikely to start on Wednesday. Crosas was delighted to see Brown return after his recent ankle surgery. "Of course it was a big lift to see him back on the field, he was our best player." he said. "Last season was my first season and I think I played with him in the centre of midfield in every game I played. He was an important player for us and, if he comes back, he will be important. I don't know if it's a risk to start us on Wednesday. I know I'm ready, I don't know if he's ready to start. That's the problem of the manager, every player has to be ready and then he makes the choice."
Whether Brown plays or not Crosas is sure that the Bhoys can keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive by getting the result they need against Dinamo. 'I'm positive about Wednesday." said Marc. "Football is football and you never know what can happen. Of course it's going to be difficult because we had a bad result against Moscow here but we have to be ready to play a good game. I am positive and I think we will win in Moscow. The manager has done things in training to suggest we will change things in Moscow. He has to talk to us, to try to make sure we believe, every player has to believe, not only because the manager wants to work in a certain way."