Foran tells ICT players to express themselves to have chance of beating Celtic
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RICHIE Foran has vowed to fight fire with fire in a bid to stun shaken Celtic this Sunday.
The Inverness CT manager is relishing the chance to, for the first time since he replaced John Hughes, take on the rampant Ladbrokes Premiership leaders and champions, who are now led by former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
Although the Hoops meekly crashed 7-0 in their Champions League Group C game against brilliant Barcelona on Tuesday night in the Camp Nou, their blistering form at the top of the Premiership is blowing everyone away already this season.
Foran knows that rout in Spain didn’t neither side any favours.
He stressed: "It was clearly not the result Celtic wanted, but not the result I wanted either. They will be coming up here determined to prove a point and not to lose two on the bounce.
"I have been on the end of heavy results and you just want to go out there and put it behind you. Celtic will be like wounded animals and we are going to be in for a very tough day, but we will prepare and be ready."
Suggestions that their Old Firm rivals Rangers may be a match for them were shattered on Saturday as Celtic won 5-1 at a canter, but 15 goals in just four league games with a fixture in hand over all but Partick Thistle means any team facing them in Scotland should fear them.
However, Foran insists his players, fresh from a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen last weekend and a 2-1 win against St Johnstone before the international break, can rise to the challenge.
Keeping the Dons, with their attacking talent, at bay pleased Foran and he is sure that showing their own attacking flair could be the way to get a positive result on Sunday afternoon for the game which will be screened live on BT Sport at 3pm.
He said: "Celtic have a spring in their step right now. They have that air of confidence about them. It is running through them as a club. Brendan Rodgers has got all the supporters on his side and they are all buying into his ideas and how they are playing.
"They are an excellent team, they have an excellent squad and they are flying high, but we are at home and I am not setting up for a 0-0 draw.
"I have always said that I believe in the quality that we have here. For example, Iain Vigurs showed that with his goal against Aberdeen. We certainly have the quality that can cause Celtic problems. It’s exciting, it’s a wonderful game to embrace. I will be asking my players to show the crowd and everyone watching what we are about.
"Don’t worry about Celtic, let’s play our own game and express yourselves. I will ask them not to hide. We work hard on the training ground and they show their qualities. I want them to go out and turn on the style against Celtic."
He added: "We are going to have a go. We are the home team and we will go all out to attack them. That’s the way we will play because of the belief I have in my squad – and I am talking about all 23 players we have here."
Foran should have a full squad to pick from against the Hoops apart from injured keeper Ryan Esson, although he boss is delighted to have recalled the ever-improving Cameron Mackay from League Two Elgin City.
