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Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell on 'unbelievable threat' his side will face in Brendan Rodgers Celtic

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell says he knows exactly what to expect from Celtic this weekend, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy to stop them.

The Steelmen's record against the Parkhead club does not make for good reading for their manager going into the game but her insists he won't be considering that as he prepares his side to welcome Brendan Rodgers' on Sunday afternoon. Motherwell haven't won a game against Celtic in a whopping 31 meetings across all competitions, with just five of them ending as a draw.

That's a run that stretches back to a 2-1 league victory in December 2015 for Motherwell under Mark McGhee at Parkhead. Despite losing their last Scottish Premiership fixture 1-0 and being in the midst of an injury crisis, there is still plenty to be optimistic about at Fir Park with a League Cup semi-final coming up against Rangers in just over a week and remain comfortable in the top half of the table.

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"I can tell you that we've worked exactly the same that we have done in the last four games preparing to play against Celtic," said Kettlewell.

"The reason why I think you can do that is they are so definitive in how they play.

"I speak about the predictability or the unpredictability of what you face sometimes and it's not been disrespectful, in some weeks that we'll go and we'll not quite understand 100 per cent whether it's going to be wholesale changes for a team, whether they're going to slightly alter and change their style of play but I think you know over the last number of years, even through two different managers, with Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers, you understand how Celtic are going to play.

"That doesn't make it easy, that doesn't mean to say that we know every bit about it and that we can execute our game plan, it's just that you understand that they want to dominate the ball.

"You understand they've got an unbelievable threat in the wide area, you understand that they control the ball in the middle of the pitch, especially through the likes of Callum McGregor and you understand that they've got real potency in their attack.

"I think the one side that we saw from Celtic the other night there was those defensive qualities, not just from the back line, you know, not just the goalkeeper in the centre-backs defending their box, but as a team, how resolute they were, the threat that they still carried, the energy I think that they have on their team is a joy to watch at times.

"So I'm perfectly aware of all these factors, but again I'll reference back to it that I prepare this week in a very similar fashion as to what I have done facing them four times previously with Motherwell."