DAVIE HAY admits he wishes he was available for selection by Brendan Rodgers as the Celtic manager plans for the Champions League encounter against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.
The Hoops legend would love to be part of the squad who will perform in Europe’s most prestigious competition in the Westfalenstadion as his old club get ready for their second outing of the season at this level.
Hay was in the Parkhead stand to watch Rodgers’ men sweep aside Slovan Bratislava 5-1 on matchday one – but he would love to be involved in the thick of the action next week.
In another CQN EXCLUSIVE series, the club great, now 76, reveals all as he speaks to Alex Gordon, who co-authored the former player and manager’s best-selling autobiography, ‘The Quiet Assassin‘.
THE QUIET ASSASSIN…Davie Hay during his playing days at Celtic.
Hay said: “I wish I could shave half a century off my age to compete in this one! Who wouldn’t want to be involved on such an occasion with 81,000 fans roaring on your opponents?
“These are the games where players stand up to be counted. In my playing days, we had the likes of Billy McNeill, Tommy Gemmell, Bobby Murdoch, Jimmy Johnstone and Wee Bertie Auld who would be chomping at the bit for kick-off.
“These are the sort of tests that were oxygen for these guys and others, too, when they donned that famous green and white jersey.
“Two of the European Cup-ties that will live forever in my memory bank were the the semi-final encounters against Leeds United in 1970.
“Big Jock Stein was a master motivator of his players. When he spoke, you listened.
“He knew the players who would react to encouragement and others who could be stung into action by criticism.
“Our legendary gaffer was aware of which buttons to press to get the absolute best out of his players. Stevie Chalmers told me a wee story when he was out of the team with Joe McBride leading the attack in his place.
“According to the man who scored the most important goal in the club’s history, the winner in Lisbon on May 25 1967 when Celtic became the first British club to conquer Europe, Big Jock would take him aside and say: ‘You should be in this team.
“‘Look at Joe. He’s not as good as you. Prove to me you are the man for the job and I’ll pick you’.
“Our crafty old boss was probably saying something similar to Joe when he was out of the team and Stevie was in the No.9 position!
EURO STARS…Davie Hay and his Celtic team-mates prepare to beat Leeds United at Elland Road.
“It was all about mind games, but you have to admit it worked.
“When we played Leeds United, our gaffer didn’t have to work too hard to psyche us up for the matches.
“We had already been dismissed as also rans by the English Press, we were told we shouldn’t waste our time bothering to turn up.
“Apparently, Leeds United were not just the best team in Europe, but the entire world and it was simply a matter of course for them to walk all over us on their way to lifting the European Cup.
“We had a lot to prove in the first leg at Elland Road and we briefly silenced the critics with a 1-0 win, my big mate George Connelly hitting the winner in the opening minutes.
“However, the media across the border insisted that had been a blip and Leeds would rectify it in the return in Glasgow, played at Hampden to accommodate a crowd of well over 100,000.
LORD OF THE WING…the legendary Jimmy Johnstone on the ball.
“I recall Jock giving his players a pep talk – although I doubt if we needed it – before the match and he pointed to Wee Jinky and said matter-of-factly: ‘There’s the man who is going to win this one for us.
“‘Get the ball to the Wee Man and he’ll do the rest. Just watch him take Leeds apart’.
“Wee Jinky must have felt about ten feet tall by the time he went onto the pitch that night. Believe it or not, Wee Jinky, voted the Greatest-Ever Celtic Player by the fans, lacked confidence in his ability.
“There were occasions when he needed lifted to perform at the level we all knew had in him. Big Jock won a watch.
“My wee chum went out and terrorised left-back Terry Cooper, England’s No.3 at the time, and when his fellow-international defender Norman Hunter tried to help out, he was was left helpless, too.
“Jinky was unstoppable as we won 2-1 to reach the Cup Final in Milan against Feyenoord. Unfortunately, we didn’t replicate our form of the semi-finals and we lost in extra-time. But that’s a story for another day.
“So, the importance of Europe to Celtic is clear and obvious. Reputations are made and lost in this arena.
“Brendan’s boys will be put under pressure in Dortmund and it will be highly interesting to see how they react.
“There’s a good balance to the side and a lot will depend on the players available to the manager. Cameron Carter-Vickers is crucial to the defensive set-up and we have to hope he will get the green light.
CAPTAIN’S ROLE…Callum McGregor will be Celtic’s onfield leader in Dortmund.
“Brendan teamed Liam Scales and Auston Trusty in the 6-0 victory over St Johnstone last night. Two left-sided players in the heart of the rearguard is unusual.
“They weren’t under any undue stress in Perth, but it will be a far different situation in Dortmund, that’s for sure.
“A lot will depend on how the midfield perform and I’ve no doubt Callum McGregor will lead by example in this area.
“Kyogo Furuhashi looked sharp against Saints and took his goals very well, but there is a case for Adam Idah, as well.
“Obviously, Brendan will give the nod to the player he reckons will be most profitable against the Borussia back lot and how they will be set out.
“Good luck, Celtic. I just wish I was out there with you!”
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