Mikael Lustig says Zenit St Petersburg will now know about Celtic after Parkhead defeat

MIKAEL LUSTIG believes Zenit St Petersburg will now know all about Celtic’s qualities after their 1-0 Europa League defeat at Parkhead on Thursday.

The big-spending Russian club, favourites for the last-32 tie, were given a chasing for most of the 90 minutes in the first leg in Glasgow.

The energetic Scottish champions were rewarded for their superiority in the 78th minute when midfielder Callum McGregor fired high into the net.

The result gives Brendan Rodgers’ side a deserved advantage for the second leg in Russia next week.

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Asked what message the game sent out to Roberto Mancini’s side, the 31-year-old Sweden defender told a number of broadcasters: “That we are good footballers.

“When we are going forward we are flying and we create a lot of chances. We kept the ball really good as well and were solid (defensively).

“If they didn’t know that we are a good team before they know it now.”

Lustig believes Celtic can take as much confidence from the performances as the result, which came against a side who had not played a competitive game for over two months.

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He said: “Of course it is a good result, and to keep a clean sheet and get three points.

“But the performance probably gives us more confidence, especially the first half. I think we went straight at them, created a lot of chances and were really solid in defence.

“We haven’t been satisfied, we gave away a couple of cheap goals away in the last couple of weeks so we are satisfied with a clean sheet.

“Everyone from Moussa Dembele down to Dorus de Vries helped a lot, we worked hard as a team, it was brilliant.

“It will be a tough game next week. We are going to be humble, we know we face a really good team but, like I said, this type of performance gives us more confidence.”