UEFA Champions League 2018-2019 qualifiers

I never said it was "easy" at any point. That's you saying that. I said it was the best draw we could have gotten at the time, doesn't mean it was easy whatsoever.

 

Arguably the best team we've played since Braga in a qualifier though.

2016-17 is the only season this Millenium when a Greek team never reached the CL Group Stage. Last time before then was 1996.

 

Genuinely think Rosenborg will give us a harder challenge than what AEK Athens will. Fact is we are a champions league team and their europa league standard at best. Athens averaged a 12k attendance last season and have spent very little in transfers. People * themselves need to calm down, in the clubs history they've only spent 1m or over on 6 players. Of course it's not all about money and attendances but seriously if we can't get past these 2 teams then * help us.

Can't believe * on here are saying it's a 50/50 tie maybe in the ronny deila era

 

Rosenborg will not give us a harder challenge than Aek Athens.

 

Call me optimistic but AEK don't worry me, we will have boyata back and jozo as emergency option.

I'm more worried about RosenbOrg having the 'bounce' effect with their new manager coming in, and the fact they're halfway through their season.

If we get through that I expect us to qualify. I know the defence is a worry but this group have got good experience the last 2 years and there's no doubt Brendan will be itching to get there again. Fully trust the Bhoys to do the job.

 

The best draw is the easiest draw; the easiest draw need not be easy.

‘You are having a nightmare.’

 

Their attendance and net spend gave absolutely * all to do with how good they are as a team.

 

That's not "belittling achievements" or any other balls. It's never easy and never will be, but trying to imply we never get anything but the most difficult ties possible is wrong. It's the standard of the qualifiers, it's always going to be teams like these.

 

Thought I was going mental when I heard that 50/50 claim. * these mugs, we’re a glamour draw for them. Most of them I’ve seen on social media are saying they are looking forward to a trip to Scotland and playing a Brendan Rodgers team

 

Agreed..

Although it does give me confidence they won't splash out between now and then and can't afford Sergio Araujo who they had on loan last season. 21 in 38 is a miss and they've signed Livaja from the same club, who is a slower, much poorer replacement..

 

I can see the uncertainty around AEK Athens though, look at their summer business so far:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/aek-athen/transfers/verein/2441

Humongous squad turnaround from last year. Both them and Rosenborg changing managers recently as well. If it wasn't for the manager change you'd imagine Rosenborg could be a tougher ask, but their squad seems disillusioned by the whole situation, which will hopefully play to our advantage.

 

Yeah, I’m still confident we will have enough to progress, we knew it was going to be tough but the draw is the toughest we could have gotten in my opinion.

 

I would feel a lot more confident if we were to bolster the defence before these ties. We are frightening from middle to front just now.

 

* it we're going out we are pish and cork will rattle us 12-1 and we'll have to sell KT Moussa and our backstock of Turkey Gujons

HH WATP

 

AEK Athens ffs!! & we still won't even have made it. Should just turn this qualifying in to a mini 'pre champions league-league'.What a * joke UEFA have made this thing. Competition is a carve up for the big leagues and their money men. UEFA too scared they will * off and do their own thing they have basically given them all about 4 teams each in it. Rich getting richer, we along with others will never catch up. Farce.

 

We do tend to look down on ourselves though.

Technically we are more of a CL team - we view teams like Ajax, PSV, Basel, Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Olympiacos etc as CL teams and we've probably been in the CL as much as them if not more than most the last 18 years and we've been to the Last 16 three times which is probably more than any of them.

We are maybe not quite a Benfica or Porto or the standard of the Russian or Turkish clubs who can all afford big money players and beat good teams regularly but we're quite good.

 

Its going to be tough against AEK if we beat Rosenborg not only because they are a good team but we will be travelling to play them at a time in the year when it gets to around 40c.
Really tough playing in those conditions.