"We'll give it our best shot": Baxter on task ahead for Crues in Bulgaria

Crusaders are in Bulgaria preparing for a tough Champions League qualifying round opener tonight (Wed).

Stephen Baxter’s side face Ludogorets – a team laden with international players and who won their seventh domestic title in a row this season.

While clear underdogs, the Danske Bank Premiership champions will be no pushovers and are already in the throes of major plans to move the club into a more full-time set-up for the season ahead.

Speaking to Downtown & Cool FM from their Razgrad training base, Baxter said it wold be a huge test but vowed they would give it their all.

“We are really looking forward to it – we are against top, top opposition,” he said.

“We will give it our best shot – we will go down fighting whatever it works and keep ourselves in the tie if we can to take the game back to Seaview.

“It will be a big task but we are really looking forward to it.”

Crusaders have a full squad bar skipper Colin Coates and Sean Ward who are on holiday.

Kick-off is 8pm.

Elsewhere, Glenavon entertain Norwegian side Molde, who are managed by Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in the qualifying first round of the Europa League.

The Norwegians will have the edge in terms of match fitness, as they are currently midway through their domestic season.

Speaking to the Glenavon Club Website, boss Gary Hamilton said they were well aware of the challenge ahead of them.

“Of course, it’s going to be a tough task, there’s no point hiding away from that,” he said.

“We always try to be honest with the players and tell them how hard the game’s going to be and it is going to be tough, it’s going to be difficult.”

The kick-off at Mourneview Park is 7.45.

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