Celtic boss Strachan rules out safety first approach in Milan

A draw is all they need at AC Milan to ensure they join the holders in the second round, and there is a train of thought suggesting the barricades should be raised.

Manager Gordon Strachan does not believe in that, though, and admits his side will have only one aim when they take to the field on Tuesday.

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"I have never asked any player, any of those I have managed now or in the past, to play for a draw," he said. "To be honest, I would not know how to.

"Our attitude has got to remain the same, we will go out to play football, enjoy ourselves and try to win."

That is precisely what the Bhoys did at Celtic Park, showing no sign of intimidation against the defending European champions, and picking up their first points in Group D in early October.

The opponent is the same on Tuesday, but the venue will be different.

And playing away from home has often been Celtic's major weakness; it is that flaw which his side must now overcome.

"There is no scientific formula to football and, if there was one, I would change it to let us win away," added Strachan.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson and Manchester City have a remarkable home form, but are poor away.

"Milan have been playing better away than they have at home in the league.

"Two of the best coaches in the world cannot find a formula for winning away or, in Milan's case, at home. And I am not in the same league as those two."

The imposing San Siro and its atmosphere will not make it harder to end their suffering outside of Glasgow, though, even if the pitch has been criticised once again recently.

"Whenever I have played here, the pitch has been excellent and the stadium is a fantastic venue for football," explained defender Gary Caldwell.

"It is nights like this that all players want to be involved in and look back on."

The motivation should therefore be high and Strachan believes his side have come of age for this, their fourth meeting with Milan in 2007.

He said: "We are in a situation now where my players don't have any fear of games like this one. It is a challenge and my players enjoy playing against the best.

"We have been in adversity recently, but we handled that and this is now another challenge for us to handle. We have been tested, have accepted these tests and done a good job."

In fact, the biggest test Strachan has tomorrow is to get his players focused on their game, and not what is happening in the Ukraine, where a win for Shakhtar Donetsk would put the pressure on his side.

The result of that game, should Celtic avoid defeat, becomes irrelevant and Strachan would prefer it to be out of his and his player's minds throughout the game.

"It is hard to ignore it with these huge scoreboards flashing up the results," he said. "We will deal with our game and I will just ask my players to go out and win it."

Fighting talk against the Champions League holders from the team who pushed them closest to elimination in the second round last year.

"They said we were their toughest opponents on the way to the title last year and that lifts you and I hope we have learned from it," added Caldwell.