Shaun Maloney backs Celtic to make an impact in Europa League as VfB Stuttgart rematch is confirmed

Shaun Maloney insists Celtic are starting to believe they can make a serious impact in the Europa League this season.

Thursday’s 4-2 victory over Utrecht saw Martin O’Neill’s men clinch a place in the knockout phase play-off where VfB Stuttgart now lie in wait next month.

The veteran manager’s first interim spell in charge saw the team boost their flagging chances of progression with a huge win away to Feyenoord.

With Wilfried Nancy losing his only European match at home to Roma, O’Neill returned to the club with little margin for error.

However, after capitalising on a hard-earned point in Bologna last week with a dramatic win over Utrecht, Maloney feels Celtic’s players will tackle their clash with the Germans with a renewed sense of optimism.

‘We had a big discussion, the staff, before Feyenoord, because I think at that point it was really 50-50 our chances, or maybe it was probably less than that,’ said the interim assistant.

Maloney scored in a 3-1 first-leg win over the Germans on the road to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final

Arne Engels and Auston Trusty were both on target against Utrecht on Thursday evening

‘Probably the history of the club kind of demands you have that sort of belief and desire to go and do something in Europe. You’re also aware that people have booked these trips weeks and months in advance.

‘The belief’s slowly growing. Probably the big turning point was the Feyenoord performance and result. Then we took that on to Bologna, really, because that last 20 minutes was very difficult (after Reo Hatate was sent off). 

‘We’ve then got to go and try and beat a really good side. In the last couple of months, we’ve shown we can.’

Celtic face Stuttgart at home in the first leg on February 19, with the return match in the MHPArena a week later. Currently sitting fifth in the Bundesliga, Sebastian Hoenes’ side finished 11th in the Europa League table on 15 points, 10 places and four points better off than the Parkhead men.

The tie is a rematch of the 2003 clash when O’Neill’s Celtic won on the road to the UEFA Cup final.

‘It’s a great tie,’ added Maloney. ‘It’s a brilliant game, brilliant for our supporters. From probably where we were post-Midtjylland to actually qualify, the players did a brilliant job.’

O’Neill is hopeful of landing three new signings before the transfer window closes on Monday.

A £6.5million deal for 23-year-old French winger Fares Ghedjemis is believed to be close, with negotiations with the right winger’s Italian club Frosinone at an advanced stage.

Maloney has been impressed with Tomas Cvancara and is confident there will be more arrivals

The Parkhead club are also in talks with Hungarian forward Damir Redzic of Slovak side DAC Dunajska Streda, but it seems more likely that Ghedjemis will arrive instead.

Maloney insisted he was ‘really happy’ with the quality of the two players who have already come in on loan, Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara.

‘I think they are types of players or profiles that we haven’t had,’ he said. ‘It’s really specific, the ones that we want to try and bring in. 

‘We feel that we’ve got a few that do the things that we need, particularly on that right side. Hopefully, we can get them in.

‘I think there were a few names mentioned on Thursday night with Martin, but we’re going to have to get pretty close. It’s getting to that point in the window.

‘Speaking with the board on a pretty regular basis, all of our staff, myself and Martin, we feel it’s close, but it has to be. It’s that sort of time of the month.

‘I we bring in another two or three, it would be a massive help. But they have to be the right ones. There is no need to bring in numbers.’