Soccer: O'Neill has no sympathy for injury-hit Valencia

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has told under-pressure Valencia coach Rafael Benitez that he cannot use his injury problems as an excuse ahead of their Uefa Cup clash.

Valencia arrived in Glasgow without Kily Gonzalez, David Albelda, Miguel Angel Angulo and Francisco Rufete.

But Celtic were also weakened two weeks ago with the absence of key players and went down 1-0 to a Vicente strike in Spain.

And just hours before the third-round second leg tie at Parkhead O'Neill was not sympathetic to his rivals' plight and claimed Gonzalez's loss was as big as that of Agathe.

O'Neill said: "Valencia have got injury problems themselves, but there was not a phenomenal amount of sympathy for ourselves when we were without key players in Spain.

"Didier Agathe, Chris Sutton, Joos Valgaeren and Alan Thompson were all injured.

"And Didier Agathe, if he's in the side, is as important to us as Kily Gonzalez so let's try and kill that off here.

"Every single time this season I sit here before a game there's total dismay with the team we are playing. Didier Agathe being out is a big problem so players can be missing and there was absolutely no sympathy for us.

"It doesn't make the game any easier whatever side Valencia field and they'll be strong all over the field."

O'Neill believes Valencia will still have enough quality in their squad to replace those missing.

He added: "They will turn up with 11 players and seven on the bench and I don't think they will be too perturbed.

"All teams like all their top-quality players in the team, but they will still have a top-quality side and top-class bench."