Cluj manager Dan Petrescu has announced what he believes to be the reason his side lost in their Europa League clash with Celtic – because it was raining.

Neil Lennon’s men bet the Romanian champions 2-0 in Glasgow in October and will go up against them again next month.

Cluj faced Academica Clinceni over the weekend and took home a 3-0 victory, however, Petrescu admitted he cut his half time team talk short after being angry with his own players.

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Speaking after the game he explained why Cluj lost to Celtic and why he was frustrated with his side.

He said: "This victory was a new experience for me because it's the first time I have ever won a match as a manager in the rain.

"It's true. Look at the games we have lost this season. At Celtic and Poli Iasi. It was torrential rain. I never win in the rain so this is a first for me.

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"I cut short the half time talk because I exploded in the dressing room and it wasn't going to end well.

"But they got the message because they scored three second half goals.

"The only thing that disappointed me was I heard Rennes' game with Nimes was postponed. I wanted them to play and be tired and maybe pick up a few injuries before they came to Romania.

"I think if we get a positive result on Thursday it would be an extraordinary result for Romanian football to beat a team from France home and away."