SUPPORTER unrest. A squad in transition. Wantaway players being left out of the team. A key member of the side lost in the summer, and not replaced. Frustration around a lack of quality signings. An underwhelming pre-season. A manager perceived by some to lack top-level experience. Sound familiar?

While all of these factors could easily pertain to Celtic’s current predicament, they are also equally true of the plight of FC Midtjylland at present.

That’s the view of football journalist Ole Bitsch of Danish publication Herning Folkeblad, who revealed that supporters of Midtjylland are approaching the Champions League qualifying tie against Celtic with just as much trepidation as their Scottish counterparts.

While Celtic fans are nervous about facing a team that made the group stages of the Champions League last season, the feeling in Denmark is hardly one of high confidence either, with this Midtjylland side a pale imitation of the one that drew with both Liverpool and Atalanta last season.

It seems among football fans in both countries, pessimism is a universal language.

“The fans here have Celtic as the favourites for the tie,” Bitsch said. “Though that may be because of the size difference between the clubs.”

Celtic may well be the bigger club, but the similarities between the sides are striking.

“The current squad is under a heavy rebuild,” said Bitsch. “They are certainly not at the same strength as the team who joined Liverpool, Ajax and Atalanta in last season’s Champions League group stages.

“In the end, they failed to win the Danish Championship title due to a very disappointing form dip, finishing runners-up to Brondby.

“They have lost the central spine of their team, taking the bold decision not to play any of the players who are set to move on from the club.

“Frank Onyeka, the Nigerian international central midfielder, is attracting interest from Brentford, who of course have a close relationship with FCM.

”Jens-Lys Cajuste is another central midfielder and was part of the Swedish Euro 2020 squad, and there is interest in him from Rennes in France and lower English Premier League clubs.

“Guinea international striker Sory Kaba, who was their top scorer last season with 14 goals in 42 games in all competitions, looks to be going to Elche. Then there is Awer Mabil, the Australian international winger, who is pushing for a move.

“Sources within the club are telling us that none of these guys will play in either game.

“Furthermore, they sold their best defender in June. Centre-back Alexander Scholz left for Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan for just £400,000 pounds due to a release clause. Scholz was named Superliga player of the year 2020/21, so that’s a big loss for them.

“There are a lot of concerns in the camp before leaving for Glasgow. Against OB [a 2-1 home loss in the first Superliga game of the season on Friday] there where many technical errors, very sloppy possession and a great lack of attacking creativity.”

Ange Postecoglou may also find common ground with Midtjylland manager Bo Henriksen, with the 46-year-old experiencing his own incoming transfer frustrations during this window.

“The club’s two biggest signings of the summer are both from Brazil, centre-back Juninho and central midfielder Charles Rigon Matos,” Bitsch said. “They cost €1.2m each, but they only landed in Denmark on Saturday night due to a delay with their work permits.

“They probably will not be match fit for the Celtic game in Scotland on Tuesday. They could however get their debut next weekend, away against AaB (Aalborg) in the Superliga, and may be fit for the Celtic return leg in Herning.”

Bitsch believes it will be left then to a few of the more experienced players, such as former Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko, to try to steer them through.

“Evander is the top dog in the hierarchy, alongside captain Erik Sviatchenko,” he said. “Erik is a great defender, but has lost what pace he had, so struggles with balls in behind.

“They also have Danish international goalkeeper Jonas Lössl who has just returned from the Euros, and Danish international winger Pione Sisto, who was formerly with Celta Vigo in Spain.

“But there is a lot of pressure on new Henriksen, who was appointed in June. The coach is known as energetic, he is always shouting and wildly celebrating goals and victories. He’s charismatic and great at man-management.

“But this is Henriksen’s first top job in the Danish topflight. Before he has management Brønshøj [in 1. Division] and AC Horsens, who are now relegated but used to be at the bottom of the Superliga for years and years.

“Many supporters, football pundits and other TV experts don’t believe that Henriksen is good enough to be in charge of a top team. His tactical abilities are being questioned. And now even more after the defeat against OB.

“Henriksen wants his team to deliver power, pace, energy and passion. But the pre-season has been quite poor. For the past two or three seasons FCM have been known as the Superliga team with the best defensive record and fewest conceded goals. During this pre-season, they have conceded a lot of chances and soft goals.

“I predict that Henriksen and FCM will go from a 4-3-3 formation to the 3-4-3 formation they’ve trained and played during the whole pre-season, but changed for the first league game.

“They will sit deep and try to hit on the counter attack. The feeling here is that a draw or a narrow defeat would be an outcome they would be happy with.”