So much about modern football is skewed away from those who strategically plan and develop teams. It wasn’t always this way. It isn’t this way everywhere. Tonight upwards of 50,000 people will pack into Celtic Park to live every kick of the ball. They will be there to see the champions of Scotland face the champions of Sweden, two clubs who bookended the 1970s by losing the first and last European Cup final of that decade respectively.
For the Celtic and Malmo, this is the modern equivalent of the European Cup final. The meritocracy, which European football enjoyed in the 70s, has been replaced by Rule of the Rich, but these two clubs go head-to-head in what is an all-encompassing battle. For each club, winning will be their biggest trophy of the season.
Both teams fancy their chances. Malmo manager, Age Hareide, is enjoying a welcome midseason form hiatus. When asked about Celtic before leaving Sweden, he dammed with difficult to find praise.
The challenge for visitors to Celtic Park, it appears, lies in standing firm to the distractions of a boisterous stadium. Celtic’s players don’t worry Hareide so much, “At Celtic, the pressure will not come from the opponents but from the stands”, apparently. Take that.
Hareide’s Helsingborgs lost to Celtic at this stage of Champions League qualifying three years ago, but after losing the first leg 0-2 in Sweden, he dismissed Celtic’s achievement by saying “we were better than Celtic at everything; in possession, we ran more than the Celtic players, and we actually played really well”. Celtic won both ties by two goals to nil. Hareide, no doubt mystified at just how his superior team were denied.
On-loan striker, Nikola Durdic, was also at Helsingborgs when they lost to Celtic. Former Aberdeen defender, Kari Arnason, lost on his only visit to Celtic Park. Jo Inge Berget made two starting appearances at Celtic Park, scoring twice in a 6-1 win over Dundee United, before losing to Maribor and slipping out of contention. All three will start tonight for Malmo if fit.
These people think we’re a one-dimensional shouty football club, who can be undone by sophisticated Scandinavian guile. Which has annoyed me, who do these people think they are? Abba, were artistically unremarkable. Take that, yourself.
Didn’t think I’d that anger in me. Hareide is in for a surprise tonight.
You can win a Celtic European shirt (the bumblebee one), courtesy of club sponsor, Magners, who have kindly donated the shirt to help with our Mary’s Meals appeal. The competition closes as kick off takes place TONIGHT, so you don’t have much time to enter. To win the shirt, email me at celticquicknews@gmail.com with the answer to the following question IN THE SUBJECT line:
How many goals have Celtic conceded to Swedish opposition in history?
When you are entering, if you can give a £1 or so to help build what would be our fifth school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals, you can do so here, it will only take a minute. I’ll give you a clue, the answer is not as hard as you may think.
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Zlatan not even on the bench.
Probably our strongest eleven we need to start with a quick tempo if we start slowly we are in danger of losing a goal or two.I am happy to see Griffiths start he knows where the goal is and is our most dangerous striker.I think Malmo will be prepared to mix it so it wont be a game for shrinking violets but I believe we can get a narrow win to take to Sweden. H.H.
Champions League theme.
https://youtu.be/NPlmYgtTpB8
Too early?
Never.
There was no way SJ was not playing tonight or any other game that RD picks a Celtic team unless suspension or Injury comes into play.He will always be RD first pick along with Broonie.Stop giving the guy a bad time on here,I am getting sick off it.We all have our heroes but lets cheer on the whole team tonight whoever our favourites are.Cmon the hoops.HH
COYBIG
HH all
Raise the roof you bhoys who are lucky enough to be there.
In Ronny and the players I trust.
BHOYS on BT sport now – COME ON CELTIC
Blantyre Tim
You’re a toff mate:))
GG
Was trying to play it on my phone earlier through the intercom at work to a couple of the huns but my phones a bit crap and they didn’t hear it over the noise of the equipment.
Need to burn it onto a disc and play it on the CD player that i have in my work area on the day of our 1st group game!
Armstrong to get a hat trick :))
C’mon The Hoops
Hail Hail
Thunder Road
Their ma big gemme specials,they’ve saved the day a few times ;)
They’re,even
LENNON N MC….MJALLBY
lol :)
Good man!!!
New article,troops.
Hope Jamesie can pick up from where he left off v Killie.
He was absolutely flying!
Too big an ask probably as it will probably be a lot tighter tonight, but that pace that he has can make a difference.
And they gave us James McGrory and Paul McStay,
They gave us Johnstone, Tully, Murdoch, Auld and Hay,
And most of the football greats,
Have passed through Parkheads gates,
All to play football the Glasgow Celtic way…
And they gave us James McGrory and Paul McStay,
They gave us Johnstone, Tully, Murdoch, Auld and Hay,
And most of the football greats,
Have passed through Parkheads gates,
All to play football the Glasgow Celtic way…
Great to see a lot of Tim’s at bv tonight. Was fantastic. Blantyre Tim’ oldtim’ sipsini’ ger57′ bognorbhoy’antearmen’dena’Hebcelt”angelgabrail’Ritchie’desertbhoy’jinkyredstar’ if I missed anyone my apologies’ I was on the bud since 1 lol. Great day. Would Like to do it again some time. HH