14 hours ago
Alistair Johnston stresses Celtic can't waste a single minute in quest for Champions League comfort
Alistair Johnston insists Celtic will be going out all guns blazing to get off to a Champions League first leg flier.
The Hoops face FC Kairat in Glasgow on Wednesday before the 7,000 mile return trek to Kazakhstan the following week.
And Johnston is determined to make it as comfortable a journey as possible.
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Celts geared up for the £40m showdown by flattening Falkirk 4-1 in the Premier Sports Cup on Friday.
Parkhead chiefs are working around the clock to bring in reinforcements ahead of the clash – including long-term targets Mikel-Angel Balikwisha at Anderlecht and Slovan Bratislava striker David Strelec.
But Johnston's focus is on building the perfect platform in Glasgow before sealing the deal on the road and securing a return to the group stage.
The rampaging full back – who notched in the Bairns bashing – said: 'I think it's massive. But at the same time I've talked to the guys and they played another team in Kazakhstan against Astana a few years back.
"They had a pretty comfortable lead going into that second leg and before you know it, it can get really difficult out there.
'That travel, the time changes, all of it. It's not an easy away day at all, so you need to make sure that you're taking full advantage at home when you have the conditions in your favour, we have the crowd on our side.
'I don't think that's something that's lost on us.
"Being a two-legged affair and us being at home first, that's going to be something in the mentality where, okay, if you get one, you got to keep pushing and pushing.
'It's going to have to be 90 minutes and don't waste a single minute of it. I think we actually showed that against Falkirk – we were really good right from the start. I think we need to bring that intensity again in midweek.'
Johnston insisted Celtic are hitting top gear ahead of the tie on the back of their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Brendan Rodgers's men have taken care of St Mirren and Aberdeen in the Premiership and made short work of Falkirk despite the boss making several changes.
Johnston said: 'When you rotate six bodies, it's always a good opportunity. 'Some people look at it and think, okay, what's going to happen here? Is there a guy who's going to be out of rhythm?
'But we have such good quality off the bench as well. We raised the game when the subs came on and that's the sign of a healthy team and a healthy squad.
'Falkirk are a tricky opponent. I think a lot of people are going to be caught kind of by surprise by them. They play some good football and if you're not right at it, they can cause some damage.
'So we did a good job limiting them. Obviously, they had some chances in the first half but in the second half, we were a bit more aggressive, got that second goal and kind of kicked on from there, and killed the game. It was a good performance and it leads us into a really big week.'
Johnston was thrilled to open his goal account for the term – especially against former Hoops keeper Scott Bain.
He said: 'It was nice. I think more importantly is just that to start that second-half as it was actually a bit of an edgy game. I thought they played pretty well in the first half so it was important for us to come out, get an early goal to try and kill the game.
'Obviously as a fullback it's not really my role, but whenever I can chip in with something like that, it's nice. It was kind of just a left-foot swing of the pendulum and I think I caught Bainy by surprise.
'I don't think I've ever actually taken a shot with my left foot before!
'I'll definitely be giving him a little bit. He deserves it. He was having a go at my garden saying that my grass was all patchy!'
