DAN PETRESCU has told the media he has been dealt a major blow ahead of the first Celtic tie scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

The Romanian confirmed his veteran star Emmanuel Culio will not be available for the first leg and described it as an ‘extraordinary loss’.

Petrescu told SunSport: “Culio is the best player in Cluj’s history. That’s my opinion.

“I am trying to take this team into the Champions League, but he’s told me he won’t be fit for the first leg against Celtic.

“And that’s an extraordinary loss for us.”

Cluj have been doing their best to throw Celtic off their game with talk in the paper since the two teams were put on a collision course.

This could be another move by Cluj to play mind games. Either playing up the importance of Culio or springing a surprise when he turns up in the starting XI for the first game.

Celtic will be worrying about their own squad to be dragged into anything like that.

Champions of their respective countries, both clubs want to prove they are superior and Celtic know they’re in for a difficult night away from home next week – Culio or no Culio.

Celtic and Cluj will find out on Monday who they would face if they win the tie.

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