Berlin to Lisbon

829

A game against Union Berlin, from the second tier of German football, four days before our Champions League qualification campaign gets underway sounds like perfect preparation.  Union will be better than any opposition we have or will play since defeat in Turin last month and they will be miles ahead of our Champions League second qualifying round opponents.

Having to play six instead of last season’s four games to qualify for the group stage has cost Celtic ‘lucrative’ preseason friendlies.  I am sure those charged with the task of balancing the books at Celtic Park (we always pay our bills) will be less than entertained by this, and for many supporters, if feels important that we face Real Madrid or Inter Milan preseason, but the summer time is all about qualifying for the Champions League.  There are five weeks between Celtic’s opening qualifying game and the first leg of the play-off round.  This extra preparation time should ensure we are fitter and ready.

Legend has it that competitive football in July inevitably leads to a drop in form late in the season but legends are not always reliable.  Last year Basel entered Champions League qualification at the same stage Celtic will next season, and next week they become the first Swiss team to play competitive European football in May ever.  Apoel Nicosia entered at the same stage in 2011 and became Cyprus’ first qualifier for the Champions League quarter final last year.

The Champions League final of 2014 will be held in Lisbon, the first time the city has hosted Europe’s top game since………. you know when.  There are 1730 miles between Berlin and Lisbon, or 10 months, if you prefer.  Preparations are already underway.

Late call for adverts for the next edition of CQN Magazine, get in touch, adverts@cqnmagazine.com.

The servers will be down for a short period of maintenance at around 8:30 tomorrow morning.
[calameo code=00039017118d2251efdd9 lang=en page=136 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

829 Comments

  1. I was at Fir Park on Sunday and the only untoward things I saw were on the park.

  2. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    GREENPINATA

     

     

    It is long gone,but remains deeply embedded in local lore.

     

     

    And beyond-I have been asked about it all over the UK!

     

     

    My Dad,who also worked at Ardeer,latterly in the Nitric plant,never once got served there.

     

     

    But he is an interlowper still,even though he has been here about thirty years!

     

     

    Aye,some town……

  3. yorkbhoy

     

    11:08 on

     

    1 May, 2013

     

     

    A bit of Celtic light relief.

     

    What player would you have loved to see in the hoops? Doesn’t have to be the most famous players just one you would have sold your granny to see at Celtic park.

     

     

    Marco van Basten for me.

     

     

    —————–

     

     

    Kris Boyd for me.

  4. hen1rik

     

     

    Am I correct in thinking they are not eligible to play European football until they have 3 years accounts? They are delaying their own entry to European football?

     

     

    LB

  5. ASonOfDan

     

    10:48 on

     

    1 May, 2013

     

    Sevco share price down to 56p when there has been no activity so far. Someone knows a secret…

     

     

    Still totally baffled as to why anyone would be these shares at 56p .They have 3 assets , ST monies, Ibrox and MP. The ST monies doesn’t cover their annual expenditure , the other 2 assets are in dispute and IMHO has a better than 50/50 chance of belonging to CW.

     

    Their is nothing else ! So why anyone would buy these shares at 56p is beyond me . Unless …..

  6. TwoMacaroons on

    Who would I have liked to see run out at CP in the hoops.

     

     

    Easy, me of course.

  7. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    YORKBHOY

     

     

    One we were linked with before he made it big

     

     

    DRAGAN STOJKOVIC-sp

  8. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    Jings, it’s not cheap to stay in Aberdeen.

     

     

    Thae loons must have plenty dosh.

  9. spikeysauldman on

    on Phil Mac

     

     

    agreed on the seat wrecking

     

    disagree on the pyro – seems I am part of the problem

  10. quantum @ 11:15

     

     

    Sevco assets? You forgot about Lee McCulloch. He must be worth north of £10m.

  11. Phyllis Dietrichson on

    Another article on sevco in today’s Private Eye, mainly focussing on “the potential pillaging of a pension fund controlled by Worthington Group”.

  12. spikeysauldman on

    sort out the real trouble and corruption in scottish football – dont use holding a flare and adding colour and atmosphere to a football match as an excuse to be seen to be even handed.

     

     

    discuss any alleged fighting outside.

     

     

    discuss pitch invasions.

     

     

    half a dozen chairs broken in any stadium which should have safe standing areas

     

    deserves some comment.

     

     

    lighting flares – even those taken up mountains by those bear grills eejits who might need to cost the tax-payer a fortune should a helicopter be required – isnt worth the brain time.

  13. livibhoy

     

     

    11:13 on 1 May, 2013

     

     

    I would put nothing past brother Ogilvie and co mate.

  14. Now imagine the scene.

     

     

    In this story SS CQN sets sail for port headed for CQN paradise Island where all CQNers would live happily every after for eternal life. Sadly after a couple of days at sea SS CQN was lost after crashing into hurricane Mineshafter with the storm ripping the good ship apart. All were lost at sea with the exception of 3 hardy soles who drifted on a barrell of Bowmore special edition for 3 days before landing on an unmapped desert island. These 3 hardy CQNers include:

     

     

    You

     

    A another good CQNer

     

    An ejjit pain in the erchie

     

     

    So who would you most like to be and most hate to be landed on a desert island with?

     

     

    MWD

  15. traditionalist88

     

    11:27 on

     

    1 May, 2013

     

    mickbhoy1888, the ‘Celtic fan’

     

    ===========

     

     

    I just wish people would ignore this poster.

     

    His refers to several managers by name but cannot afford the same courtesy to Neil Lennon, our manager.

  16. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    I wear flares regularly, away from the work environment.

     

     

    Ole Dick Byrne prefers to lounge around in loon pants, or at a stretch, culottes.

  17. Looks like a good documentary on the Calabrian Mafia the ‘Ndrangheta, on BBC2 at 9 tonight.

     

     

    The programme is titled “The Mafia’s Secret Bunkers” referring to the secret hideouts where the top bosses hide out.

  18. Monaghan1900 on

    Eh???

     

     

    ‘KILMARNOCK boss Kenny Shiels has labelled Celtic the MONSTERS of Scottish football.

     

    In his latest rant the Rugby Park chief claimed the Hoops wield “massive influence” over SFA judicial panels.

     

     

    Shiels also claimed he’d vote for axed Hearts boss John McGlynn as Manager of the Year if he could.

     

     

    He said: “Celtic have massive influence on the judicial panel when decisions are made. Celtic are the monsters of Scottish football. We need the muscle of Celtic, it’s important to Scottish football.

     

     

    “The Old Firm in general have the biggest support and influence.”

     

     

    Shiels, who backed Well boss Stuart McCall to win the PFA gong on Sunday, added: “If I could, I’d have voted for John McGlynn.

     

     

    “He had a fantastic season playing kids, getting to the League Cup Final then being denied that chance.

     

     

    “I don’t want to say Neil Lennon should be manager of the year just so I can walk through Glasgow.”

     

     

    Lennon, McCall, Terry Butcher and Allan Johnston are up for the prize. ‘

  19. Oglive and walter all cosy.. Shock horror. Corrupt to the top that sfa.

     

     

    Lost faith in celtic challanging them properley . Surely we have enough evidence these past couple years to submit to ueafa about the shady dealings between hampden and ibrox

     

     

    Even if we dont win anything making all the evidence public at the one time would surely make some sit up and take notice.

  20. yorkbhoy @11:08 Gareth Southgate. I saw him play against Arsenal a few times when GH was in charge and he was a cut above any one of their famous backs four.

     

    Her waltzed and passed the ball out of defence like you or I might dunk a teabag on a string. Only he didn’t spill a drop.

     

    A pleasure to watch. Even in an aerial challenge he had already picked out who he going to head the ball to.

  21. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    TMWTL- filmed underneath Murray Park is it?

     

     

    Wee Craigy emerges, talpidine, blinking into the sun, clutchin’ the ole deeds and cackling like a good ‘un.

  22. lionsroars67@11:31

     

     

    Can’t get my head round the couple of lines in the E-Tims article which says ‘seats that were already broken prior to the game’.

     

     

    So Thistle were selling tickets for the Jackie Husband stand when actually the seats were broken already?

     

     

    I find that hard to believe.

  23. Monaghan1900 @11:38 informs us “I (Kenny Shiels) don’t want to say Neil Lennon should be manager of the year just so I can walk through Glasgow.”

     

     

    That should not go unchallenged. He’s in no danger from Tims. Regardless.

     

    What he is alluding to and trying to stand on its head is that should he recommend Neil Lennon then he’d be in danger from huns here and in the province where he was born.

  24. Yorkbhoy

     

     

    Sorry mummy :-)

     

     

    DBBIA

     

     

    Now a 24 year old Lubo, that would have been worth paying a few sheckles to see.

     

     

    Spikey

     

     

    I get where you’re coming from regarding the pyro etc and like you I do think that they add to the atmosphere and ambience of the occasion. However, we played away at Dingwall last season in the cup before their stadium was updated and I was stuck on a cramped terracing behind several young guys who let of ‘smokes’. I genuinely struggled to breath and for a few minutes I was very uncomfortable.

     

     

    At Fir Park on Sunday the smoke didn’t effect me, but my company, who suffers badly from asthma, was left gasping for air. And it wasn’t caused by the standard of our play :-)