The Champions League draw threw up a major surprise yesterday when Celtic, drawn out amongst the last group of teams didn’t get placed into the group containing Juventus and Barcelona.
Instead , supporters found themselves looking down the twin barrels of Bayern Munich and Paris St. Germain. Then there’s Anderlecht, which apparently gives us a great chance of making Europa League football, as expert analysts on social media immediately wrote off the Belgian champions whilst simultaneously admitting a lack of knowledge about them.
It could have been worse, but not by much.
However, the consolation is that we have the glamour we wanted, and we do have a chance of making it through to the promised land of European football in the New Year, and thats because we’re a better side than the one that participated last year.
The manager will be making sure the players understand that, and if they do, then the sky is the limit.
We’re certainly a better side than our own media think. Last night rosenborg completed a home and away double victory over last seasons Europa finalists ajax, and that proves they are no mugs, and yet Celtic overcame them in the qualifiers.
We must not underestimate our own capabilities, and although we’ve drawn tough opponents, so have the other three teams in our group.
Celtic number two Chris Davies spoke shortly after the draw:
“Qualifying is a fantastic achievement and you have to look at what you are up against now,”
“There is a massive gap which has opened up in Europe, more than ever, between some of these elite teams and the rest.
“You have to be mindful of that. The money they are spending on one player alone is incredible.
“But it’s not as if we have players who haven’t played at this level before. We’ve got some excellent players ourselves with Champions League and international experience.
“Neymar has gone to PSG with that enormous transfer fee [£198m] but he is someone our players have played against, so that’s a good reference for them in terms of their level. That will give them confidence.
“You look at the draw and there are world class players in every group.
“Brendan is a realistic, pragmatic manager. But at the same time he gives players belief and confidence. He has a lot of confidence in the way we play and what we can produce.
“It is an exciting challenge, not one which scares us.
“We are playing against teams which are favourites to beat you. You are the underdog against the likes of PSG and Bayern.
“It’s not something that is new to Celtic, going into these kind of games against really good teams. We are going to embrace it and look forward to it. We are going to control what we can in terms of planning for the games tactically.
“It’s an exciting challenge for us all, The players can look forward to going out and showing the same personality they did away to Moenchengladbach, Manchester City and Rosenborg – references where in good European venues we performed well.”
Davies also put the twenty minute terror against Astana into perspective..
“We were in that unique position in a play-off final where the opponent was putting enormous risk into the game by changing their shape and chasing everything while we were counter-attacking and making chances ourselves,” he said. “We weren’t finishing our chances and they were taking theirs and the game became opponent.
“The point I am trying to make is that we are a better team defensively now than what we were this time last year. We conceded 7 goals in the qualifying campaign last year, and four this year. Away at Rosenborg it was a fantastic defensive performance so we are evolving and improving as time goes by. We will look forward to it.
“The other point that is important to make is that you can’t underestimate just how much of an achievement it is to qualify for us. I don’t think anyone should come away from that at any point. What we go through as a club to get there is very difficult. You are in the first weeks of pre-season against teams who have played 20-odd games and you have to go to different places on different pitches and we have had a lot of injuries.
“It is a fantastic achievement to qualify from Brendan and from the players and we should savour it and really enjoy it.”
It certainly won’t be dull, and we have a lot to look forward to.
Davies again;
“Third place is what people will immediately look to,”
“But from our perspective it certainly won’t be the message that we’re internally giving to the players from the manager. That’s just not the way that we work, that we’re resigning ourselves to third place.
“A club of this size doesn’t do that. You have to look to each game and give it everything and see what happens. The challenges are clear and are clearly really big for us. We will be playing probably two of the biggest and best clubs in world football in our group.
But, having said that, the record that we have got at Celtic Park is always something that works in our favour.
Actually, I’d prefer to concentrate on improving that record. It hasn’t been great lately, and thats because other teams thrive on the atmosphere.
We need to make it a little more uncomfortable for them, in the ways I suggested yesterday in the diary.
At the same time though, with the crowd behind them, the players will feel like they can give anyone a game.
If all the points on the holy triangle of management, players and supporters are joined up nicely, then we could well surprise a few people.
CEO Peter Lawwell spoke to the press as well, which would have pleased him.
“It could have been a little bit easier, but it is obviously Box Office.
“It is fantastic to have these clubs coming to our place, three outstanding clubs.
“Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain are top, top European clubs in everything that they do.
“For them to be coming to Celtic Park will be a privilege and they will be brilliant nights.
The same goes for Anderlecht because we have great history with them.
“So, as I said, although the draw could have been easier, it is Box Office and we will welcome these clubs to Glasgow and give them the Celtic experience.”
This Celtic experience should involve locking them out of the dressing rooms, putting laxatives in the drinking water and stealing all the laces out of their boots when they’re not looking.
Never mind all that, Peter, where’s Paddy ?
“We bring players in, develop them and give them the Champions League stage.
“If they want to stay, fantastic. But there is also an opportunity to go.
“Both in terms of attracting players and retaining players, the Champions League is where people want to play.
“There are another couple of players we’d like to bring in and hopefully we can get them over the line.
“We are making progress with Patrick Roberts. There is nothing certain and we are respecting Man City’s position.”
At three o’clock today we’ll know whether or not its a loan or a permanent move. If I had a reputation, i’d stake it firmly on this. Others, of course cannot comment.
Fortunately , I can, and it doesn’t matter whether I’m right or wrong.
With Simunovic ( wants to go ) and Sviatchenko ( told he can go ) unlikely to be hanging around, there is a need to bring in at least one more centre half, and thats apart from Rivaldo Coetzee , who will also be revealed at three.
Another striker ?
Don’t be shocked if we do. Even if its to allow one to leave…
Rogers has hinted that the formation Celtic use just now will be altered from time to time, and at this level, in order to spring the surprises that we need to spring, this could well be the way to do it.
A few years ago, Ronny Deila explained to me that the system he had brought in would be altered and adapted once the players understood it.
There are similarities between the two managers, but Rogers , of course, is the more experienced of the two, and he has already used a couple of different systems during matches to counter any problems. Expect this to continue and even become a regular occurrence as he pits his wits against some of Europes top class players and coaches.
Incidentally, there’s already been a bit of a spat between two German clubs….
Bayern tweeted this picture, a reference to the “That German team ” craic of last year… which had Moenchegladbach upset..
Meanwhile, as we were all looking towards Monaco and dreaming of glory, Albion Rovers found out that despite Rangers setting a precedent, you can get thrown out of a competition for improperly registering players after all.
Then again, what do you expect ?
Here’s how UEFA do things publicly…
And heres how they do the big events in Scotland..
Without a hint of shame, the Record reported..
Brian Kerr says his players are carrying the can for the SPFL board’s decision to kick Albion Roversout of the Irn-Bru Cup.
The Cliftonhill boss was shocked at the decision to reinstate Spartans after his club fielded an ineligible player in the first-round penalty shoot-out win over the Lowland League side.
Yesterday’s disciplinary hearing concluded that Rovers’ Liam McGuigan had not been
registered, should not have played in the August 15 tie, annulled the original result and awarded Spartans a 3-0 win.
Rovers were fined £2000 and have also been denied a lucrative home tie against Irish side Linfield but Kerr insists it was an honest mistake as they pled guilty to the error. He also believes the verdict may not have been so severe if it involved a club of a bigger standing.
He said: “There was no attempt to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes as Liam has been here for a while. There was an error in registering his contract. We held our hands up to that and expected a fine and the game replayed.
We should help out here.
Big protest at Cliftonhill, threatening social unrest, whilst waving banners and shouting we are the people.
Usually works .
Which reminds me, have you seen who the linesman is for the St. Johnstone game tomorrow ?
From Holyrood magazine…
Amnesty International has urged Douglas Ross to apologise after the Scottish Tory MP called for tougher enforcement against Gypsies and Travellers, with the human rights group describing his comments as “a terrible example that only serves to foster further discrimination and prejudice”.
The Moray MP came under fire from campaigners and opposition parties after saying that, if he was Prime Minister for the day, without any repercussions, he would introduce “tougher enforcement against Gypsies and Travellers”.
Responding to the comments, Amnesty International’s Scotland programme director Naomi McAuliffe told Holyrood: “When our elected leaders use this sort of blatantly partisan speech, they set a terrible example that only serves to foster further discrimination and prejudice.”
Whe you consder the two racist Tory councillors re admitted this week, its nice to see that the United States isn’t the only country becoming aware of this old adage..
Dear America: You are waking up, as Germany once did, to the awareness that 1/3 of your people would kill another 1/3, while 1/3 watches.
Thats why we dip into the world of politics for this weeks
Knob of the Week
Ruth Davidson has , from their point of view, done an incredible job with the Scottish conservative party, taking them from one MP to several. She did this by encouraging divisions in society , as she has shown this week with her support for the two councillors who tweeted anti catholic and anti Irish nonsense.
Her refusal to condemn Dougie Ross adds to the feeling that she herself is a little bit on the bigoted side, and is representative of a kulchurr that has no place in modern society.
So, Ruthy Ruth, you are the first woman to lift the coveted
Knob of the Week
award, and its for your contribution to a caring and sharing society.
And ,of course, your refusal to say anything about it publicly, because your cat was missing, or something.
If i was her cat I’d have been away a long time ago.
CAPTION…………..
” Now dont forget Mrs, keep the mask on until you get past the big building with the curtains on the outside “
Todays picture…
Later today, at noon, El cormacos season preview hits the site. Keep an eye out for it.
Its a belter.
