Money 'Means Nothing' As Celtic Host PSG
12 September 2017, 09:27
Olivier Ntcham insists money will mean nothing when Celtic face big-spending Paris St Germain in their Champions League opener at Parkhead.
The French side broke the world transfer record in August when they signed Brazil forward Neymar from Barcelona for £200.6million.
Eighteen-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe later joined on a season-long loan from Monaco - PSG can make the deal permanent next summer for £166m.
Both players joined a multi-talented squad which already included the likes of Edinson Cavani, Marco Verratti and Julian Draxler.
However, 21-year-old French midfielder Ntcham, who grew up as a PSG fan, is adamant the Scottish champions will not be fazed by Tuesday's visitors.
He said: "I will be delighted to play against PSG. They have a great group of players and it doesn't matter how much they have spent as all players are equal.
"It doesn't matter how much money you cost as on the pitch everyone has two feet and two hands when we play.
"They are an exceptional bunch of players but we need to exploit the ball well once we get hold of it. Being more aggressive and playing our own game is the key towards winning."
Ntcham is relishing the prospect of facing his boyhood heroes.
He said: "I am very excited to play against Paris St Germain because previously I was a supporter of Paris and, for me, to play against them is not a dream but it's close to it.
"For my friends and family it's like a dream as everyone would watch them on TV and, although they have spent money, once we are on the pitch, we are all the same and I have to play my game."
PSG boss Unai Emery is looking forward to experiencing Celtic Park on a Champions League night.
He said: "It is a great atmosphere here. All the players love to play in this type of game, but the players are used to that level and that type of atmosphere.
"It will be difficult to overcome but we must try."
Boss Brendan Rodgers revealed his delight after skipper Scott Brown and Jozo Simunovic signed new deals with Celtic on the eve of their Champions League clash with Paris St Germain.
The Parkhead club confirmed that 32-year-old Scotland captain Brown, who joined the Scottish champions in 2007, has penned a two-year contract which takes him until at least 2019.
Defender Simunovic, 23, who arrived in Glasgow from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, has penned a new four-year deal until at least the summer of 2021.
Striker Leigh Griffiths is available for tonight's match.
The Hoops attacker missed Friday night's win over Hamilton with a calf injury but has been declared fit for the visit of the star-studded French side.
Striker Moussa Dembele, out since July with a hamstring complaint, is back training but still not up to speed while defenders Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko are working their ways back from knee problems.
Provisional squad: Gordon, Lustig, Tierney, Ajer, Simunovic, Brown, Forrest, Sinclair, Armstrong, Bitton, Roberts, Hayes, McGregor, Benyu, Ntcham, Ralston, Griffiths, Edouard, Miller, De Vries.
