Bologna’s Ferguson Aiming for First Victory Against Celtic

Ferguson Sets Sights on Celtic Challenge

Bologna’s captain, Lewis Ferguson, is determined to secure his first victory over Celtic when the Italian club hosts the Scottish champions in the upcoming Europa League group stage match on Thursday.

The midfielder from Scotland has faced Celtic 16 times throughout his career, competing once with Hamilton Academical and the remainder with Aberdeen. Despite suffering 13 losses in these encounters, Ferguson has managed to net seven goals.

“I’ve never considered it too much; every match against them has been a tough challenge,” the 26-year-old commented. “We had a strong squad at Aberdeen but fell short, so it would be fantastic to change that record.

“Seeing the draw, this was the first match I looked for. Playing against a Scottish team like Celtic is exciting. Winning this game is essential if we want to secure a spot in the top eight. I’ve been conversing with the analysts this week, but I’m already quite familiar with their team as I keep a close eye on Scottish football and often watch Celtic. It should be an exciting match.”

Ferguson Disappointed Over Substituted Role

Recently, Ferguson has had a challenging period after helping the national team qualify for this summer’s World Cup, finding it difficult to maintain a regular position in Vincenzo Italiano’s starting lineup, often being sidelined more than he desires.

“It’s been a little frustrating, as this is new for me,” he admitted. “For the first time in my career, I’m not a consistent starter, but that’s part of football, with its ups and downs. I’m handling it and putting in the effort to get back in the squad and stay there.

“This match is just another challenge; it doesn’t change much for us. We’ve prepared like we always do, and we need the points. Celtic remains a formidable side, despite their recent struggles. They’ve had coaching changes this season yet they’re still strong. I’ve faced them many times, so I’m aware of their key players.”

Even though he’s not an automatic pick at Bologna’s Renato Dall’Ara stadium, Ferguson is not overly concerned about how this impacts his chances of starting in the upcoming North American tournament. He also aims to put behind him the memory of the cruciate injury that cost him a place at Euro 2024.

“I haven’t spoken to the head coach, Steve Clarke, about this; it’s a normal situation,” he stated. “Every player goes through this at some point. Missing out on the Euros was heartbreaking, so that experience motivates me as I look ahead.

“All Scottish players will likely share this sentiment. It’s never good to miss out on a significant tournament due to an injury. However, the World Cup is an even greater occasion, and it’s an exciting period for all Scotland players and fans.”