‘BRING ON THE CELTIC’, SAYS LINFIELD BOSS

LINFIELD boss David Healy has declared that his team have earned the right to play Celtic in the Champions League.

And the former Sevco Rangers striker has urged his players to show their worth against Brendan Rodgers’ all-conquering Invincibles.

Healy is relishing the prospect of taking on the Scottish treble-winners at Windsor Park a week tonight and the return in Glasgow five days later.

Having defeated San Marino side La Fiorita 1-0 on aggregate, the Irish gaffer said: “We did a professional job and we’ve earned the right to be in the same round as Celtic.

“My players have put a lot of work in to get to this point and now I want them to enjoy the games at Windsor and Parkhead as this may be the only time we play Celtic.

“This tie is a shop window for everyone at the club. If you score and play well against Celtic, you never know what can happen.

“I’m under no illusions how difficult the tie will be because of the players Celtic have and the way Brendan manages them, but these are matches we will be looking forward to.”

The Windsor game was switched to July 14 with a 5pm kick-off for security reasons with the Hoops deciding not to take up their allocation of away tickets.

Healy added: “From my point of view, I want to be talking about a football match and nothing else.

“Can we do it? Of course, we can. Belfast hosts big games. We have the proper stadium now to do that and, hopefully, everyone lets us get on with that.”

NEW CQN PODCAST WITH SFA PRESIDENT ALAN RAE OUT NOW!

Episode 2 of ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ finds Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham discussing a variety of topical subjects concerning Celtic Football Club, including:

* Callum McGregor: The Youth of Today;
* Death of the Cult Hero;
* Norwegian Wood – Ronnie Deila’s Exit Interview;
* Farewell to The Stone Roses;
* Hillsborough: The Truth.

Paul John Dykes also chats to SFA President, Alan McRae, to challenge him over recent comments made about Celtic’s domination of Scottish football.

Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes and @CQNMagazine or just listen using the link below…