Soma keeps Rapid's rise in perspective
Friday, October 2, 2009
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Despite sitting top of Group C after securing a draw at Celtic FC, defender Ragnvald Soma refuses to believe SK Rapid Wien are favourites to progress to the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League.
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Despite securing a 1-1 draw against Celtic FC, Ragnvald Soma refuses to believe that SK Rapid Wien are favourites to progress to the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League. Twenty-five years after their last visit to Glasgow, the Austrian side shocked the home crowd with a fourth-minute opener from Croatia striker Nikica Jelević, and although Scott McDonald levelled for Celtic midway through the first half, Rapid weathered a second half storm to go a point clear at the top of Group C.
Strong position
"Looking at the second half we should be quite happy," Rapid's Norway defender told uefa.com. "We had to cope with a lot of pressure in the second half, but we managed to keep Celtic away from the goal which was important. One point here is good and yes, it's massive for us now." Another away point to go with their opening 3-0 win at Hamburg leaves Rapid in a strong position to progress, but Soma is refusing to read too much into their positive start.
Much to do
"It's too early to say if we are favourites. There are still a few games to go and we just have to concentrate on the next one. We've had a good start, but it doesn't matter how many points you have now if we don't take any more. With four games to play there are still plenty of points to fight for, so we just have to keep playing and hopefully we'll get enough to go through."
Celtic disappointment
For Celtic, who sit bottom on one point, it was a night of frustration and their goalscorer McDonald admits they now have to win their next game at home to Hamburg in three weeks to maintain any hope of reaching the last 32. "We're all disappointed not to have got the win but our reaction at going 1-0 down was very good," the Australia international told uefa.com. "We came back into it and felt we were the team who were going on to win it but it wasn't to be and they defended well. We've seen enough to suggest we can go to Vienna and upset them, but we really have to win the next game which is Hamburg at home. Hopefully, we can do that and give ourselves a chance again."