“Anyone going to Celtic Park now is saying, ‘You’ve got to beat that atmosphere, the energy they spend in their games’.” – Sir Alex Ferguson
No greater compliment can be paid to Celtic fans from one of the greatest managers the world has ever seen.
Celtic Park on a big European night is second to none. The atmosphere the Hoops support create is deafening and Neil Lennon and his players will need their 12th man in full song as usual starting against Benfica as they try to battle their way out Group G of the UEFA Champions League.
When both sets of teams walk onto the pitch on Wednesday night, the hairs on the back of their necks will rise because when the iconic Champions League anthem is played, there is no better place to be in world football. The roar the Celtic fans make is incredible and they really do provide their players with that extra 10% that could be the difference between a win and a draw and so often is.
It’s been a long four-year absence for the Parkhead faithful from Europe’s elite competition and they return to the Group Stages just relieved to be back. Possibly for the first time, there is no real expectation for Celtic to do something in Europe.
Scottish football is suffering as a result of one clubs demise, but once again Celtic are leading the way and flying the flag high for the country, injecting some pride back into our game.
Many rubbished claims the Parkhead side could return to Europe’s top competition but the defiance Lennon and his players have shown deserves to be applauded and everyone within Scottish football should be proud of the Glasgow club.
With Celtic qualifying to the Group Stages, they will also provide an invaluable £1.5 million cash boost for Scottish Premier League teams at a time where every penny counts for Scottish clubs.
Moreover, Scotland’s co-efficient ranking will also receive a much needed lift so the whole of the Scottish game benefits from Celtic qualifying.
If Celtic can continue to make Parkhead a fortress as they’ve done in previous years, they might even have a chance of progressing in the competition this year.
The best footballing team in the world, FC Barcelona, are the obvious favourites to top the Group but second place is certainly within Celtic’s reach. Benfica and Spartak Moscow will pose a difficult threat as they are both dangerous teams with plenty of talent at their disposal but the draw could have been much worse for Lennon and his players.
Even to secure third place would be a great achievement as the club would then stay in Europe beyond Christmas, making even more revenue.
Traditionally, Celtic have been formidable at Paradise and it’s a real difficult ground for any team to visit. In recent years, they have conquered the likes of Manchester United, AC Milan and Barcelona and Lennon will be hoping to add more formidable teams to that list this season.
In spite of this, Celtic’s away record in Europe is appalling, although under Lennon’s tenure it’s improved drastically, so much so they are undefeated in four away games, drawing two and winning two.
The Hoops manager seems to have developed a working formation away from home and maintaining that formula will be crucial to Celtic’s hopes of qualifying. If the Hoops can gather 6 points at home against Benfica and Spartak Moscow, a win or a draw away from home could be enough to secure qualification.
Celtic fans have enjoyed some spectacular UEFA Champions League nights in the past. Now Neil Lennon’s men will be hoping to create new memories for the Hoops support to savour for years to come.
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