FROM NEIL DOHERTY IN GLASGOW: He graced Celtic Park with his skills but Donegal Hoops fans will have mixed feelings when one of their own plays to put them out of the European Cup.
Aiden McGeady’s roots and heart rests in Gaoth Dobhair.
And tomorrow night he will lead a Sparak Moscow attack which could decide if Celtic go through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Donegal Hoops fans will of course be behind Celtic all the way – but it will be hard to watch such a great friend like Aiden trying to beat us
A win against Spartak Moscow would move Celtic on to 10 points in the UEFA Champions League Group G, but it still might not be enough to guarantee qualification to the last 16 of the competition.
In order for Celtic to progress, they have to better Benfica’s score against Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
That match in Catalonia is one that the Celtic players have no influence over, and knowing that, Neil Lennon believes his players will be totally focused on their own task in hand.
“I want us to win the game,” the manager said at the pre-match press conference. “That would mean Benfica would have to win in Barcelona, but that’s all we can do. We will try and play as well as we can.
“The players have enjoyed the competition, they have thrived on it and I’m looking for more of the same tomorrow night. The players have their own focus, regardless of the result elsewhere. We have a difficult team to beat, it’s a big enough task as it is without knowing what’s going on elsewhere.
“If we come away with 10 points then that is a fantastic total for our first season in that competition. If that gets us through, great, and even if it doesn’t then it’s still a tremendous achievement.”
Celtic fans do have the world’s greatest player on their side – Lionel Messi.
“We have not always been supportive of the way that Celtic try and play football,” said the Barcelona star today.
“However, their fans deserve the knockout stages of the Champions League as I think the competition would be a quieter place without them.”
Lovely
Enjoy the boat over lads.
Tags:
