I rarely disagree with Martin O’Neill, and I’m not going to start now, even after a 3-0 victory on Wednesday night against Lask. I don’t think the game is over, and I do think we will score over in Austria, and if they play the way they played at Celtic Park, we may have to score. We could have been two goals down before we scored, their front pair of Samuel Adeniran and Moses Usor were very good, and fast, and their captain Sascha Horvath was outstanding all night, they will need close attention over there.
It was a brilliant victory for Celtic, it was a major obstacle to get over, and the clean sheet was important. There was not a failure in the team, we know about the qualities of Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, Camilo scored two fantastic goals, and Big Kasper worked hard all night occupying their two central defenders. I was really impressed with Mika Baur, I thought he had a great debut, he looked very similar to Reo Hatate in his pomp, Reo also did very well when he came on, as did Haissem Hassan, he will be aa cracking player once he gets his fitness up to scratch, it’s a good luck sign when his first name spelt backwards is “Messiah”.
I was impressed with Colby Donovan, and Viljami Sinisalo had a very good game as well, and as for our magnificent captain Callum Mc Gregor, I wish there was a way of making him ten years younger, beside Cal and Mika, Benji Nygren was very impressive as well, and scored another magnificent goal, I’m surprised there hasn’t been more talk of big money bids for him, his stats are up there with the best, four games, four goals, four assists, you can’t ask for much more than that. We probably need another couple of midfielders into the squad, someone of the ilk of Arne Engels, and probably someone who can allow Cal Mac a wee rest now and again.
We have given ourselves a great chance of getting through to the group stages of the Champions League, and I think if we can add some more quality to the team there is a real opportunity to progress also, not just the knock-out round, but a bit further in the competition, having said that, you need a bit of luck in the draw as well. Final word to the Celtic Support, Wednesday night proved that Celtic Park has the best atmosphere in European Football, and that’s down to noise created by the supporters, so take a bow all those who were there.
I knew on Wednesday night that there was a serious medical emergency in the lower Jock Stein Stand, sadly a Celtic Supporter from Port Glasgow passed away in hospital and receiving treatment at the game. Our thoughts and prayers are with his Family.
Glasgow’s still Green and White.