Zlatan’s talent, as a substitute in both games for Ajax in Champions League qualification duty against Celtic 19 years ago, was blindingly obvious. It is an incredible achievement that he remains at the top of the game all these years later. Pity the younger generation of Celtic fans have been robbed of a chance to see one of the modern game’s greats strut his stuff on our hallowed turf in the flesh.
We have faced Milan five times on European Cup/Champions League duties, never in the lesser tournaments. The away leg of the 1969 quarter-final ended goalless, passing the advantage to Celtic, but the name Prati still makes older fans shiver. Celtic battered the Milan goal after Prati’s early strike to no avail. The visitors would go on to win the final comfortably against a still-emerging Ajax, with Prat grabbing a hat-trick. Back then, this trophy was regarded as one that got away from us.
The next time we met Milan was in 2004 in the San Siro, when we were level until the 89th minute before losing two late goals (some of us were on labour ward duties and missed the action). The return ended goalless, as did the home leg, when the teams met in the last 16 in 2007 – and the corresponding away leg. Milan edged the tie in extra time to proceed to the quarter-finals and, again, going on to win the cup.
The teams met later on that year in the group stage, Celtic recording a famous 2-1 win, their only win over reigning European champions. Milan won their home game with an Inzaghi strike well into the second half, but the narrow defeat was enough for Celtic to progress to the knock-out rounds on the night.
A year on from their Barcelona triumph, Celtic wilted in a daunting 2013 Champions League group against Barca, Milan and Ajax. A home win over Ajax and five defeats was a muted end to European endeavours in Neil Lennon’s first period charge.
That single win over European champions was followed next time out by a horrendous showing at Fir Park against Gretna, where two goals in the closing five minutes gave Celtic a 1-2 win. Beating the best, beating Milan, does not always require great domestic form. Hope in our hearts……
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Morning!
From a quite mild Kentucky where the mercury is rising in to summer territory.
Ps HH!
Mon the Effin Hoops !!!
Pingback: Hope in our hearts Paul67 - Celtic FC News Aggregation
Paul67
A good result and I’m going for
‘papering over the cracks’ as the first post in the joyless brigade bingo?
exercise for some players to get fitness back tonight
Where was podium chasing ernie lynch?
Surprised Neil hasn’t demanded an apology from some of cqn’s finest…
you had to mention Prati Paul :-)
As Corkcelt said in last blog,a bit of fight and dig tonight.come on Celtic
hh
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 22ND OCTOBER 2020 12:21 PM
CELTIC40ME on 22ND OCTOBER 2020 9:56 AM
Pioli, their coach, says he’s taking this competition very seriously, they want to win it, and they want to win the group a quickly as possible. He said he admires Macgregor.
From reading the article I thought Pioli seemed like he’d had a good breakfast and had had relations with his wife in the previous 3 days.
……………………………..
That made me laugh out loud. 😂
HOT SMOKED on 22ND OCTOBER 2020 12:18 PM
Tied up in the boot (or trunk as the yanks say) of my car.
Goood afternoon, from a dull and overcast Stirling ☹️
What is the issue with Odsonne ? Is he still affected with Covid ?
We we’re always going to see a dip in form, from a player of 22, and his first 2 seasons playing consistently ?
Is ElHammed back – 7 days isolation once Covid confirmed, if no woman being tested free ?
Understand Christie I see back
And Bitton still struggling ( unless he can have another miraculous recovery if Israel need him)
If the team gets leaked earlier, it gives us more time to moan baout the selections and the manager’s inadequacies.
The mole is providing a public service.
Paul 67,
Many teams would love to be playing an ” A list ” team like AC Milan.
A genuine opportunity to gauge ourselves outwith the SPL bubble with our highlights being screened far and wide.
Legends, history and memories await.
COYBIG.
45 minutes for Ajeti.
45 minutes for Griff.
45 minutes for Eddie.
45 minutes for Klimala.
Any pairing for each half will do.
Whit’s the point of winning tonight – we’d just be papering over the cracks.
HH
BGFC
Paul67
……………Barkas………….
Frimpong..Duffy..Ajer..Laxalt
……….Brown…Ntcham……….
Christie…..Moi…..MacGregor
………………Ajeti…………………
There’s three ghosts right there El Younoussi, Frimpong, Ntcham, all of them will appear again tonight if we line up 3 -5 -2 get behind the nearest couch.
Hail Hail
p.s. Down with moles
BIG GEORGES
Boom 👍
What better game to get Griff and Ajeti up front together.Get them game time,both need it.
4 at the back,Duffy replaced by Jullien.4 in the middle.Christie,Broony,Turnbull,Calmac.Try something different,tighter,and work like hell.We have had enough of luxury players who contribute very little.
This is a class team.Please,no gambles on players who have not performed so far,like Elyanoussi.Would bite your hand off for a draw,but Sunday also very important,so get the players who need it,game time.
No Eddy,Biton,Elhamed.Mores the pity.All 3 would have started for me.
James Forrest invisible for weeks.
“What these players have to realise, is that when you put on the Celtic jersey you’re not playing for a football team, you’re playing for a community and a cause.”
Rock on Tommy. ???
Of course we play to win, always.
COYBIG.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 22ND OCTOBER 2020 12:24 PM
If the team gets leaked earlier, it gives us more time to moan baout the selections and the manager’s inadequacies.
The mole is providing a public service.
—–
Sadly the ostriches won’t hear a damn thing :)
Trump retweeting three votes via a CQN podium in English, Chinese and Russian ffs?
It’s Good To Be a Tim,….genuinely!
HHH.
I think we’ve been hit harder than any other team in Scotland with covid, with some players more ill than would would have expected
e. g. Bitton. At the other end of the scale, the huns seem invincible to covid (would I really trust them to be open and honest 🤔).
Don’t like getting beaten but I’d settle for a low score defeat tonight as long as we see an improved performance. I’ve calmed down from Saturday’s fiasco and realise that unless things got so bad (beyond repair in a short time frame) that the management team we have is here for the season. We have it within ourselves to turn this around very quickly. Psychology is a big part of the game and we’re suffering badly just now (aided and abetted by a willing media to chip away). Wish I was there tonight.
BANKIEBHOY1 on 22ND OCTOBER 2020 1:09 PM
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I love Celtic and U2 but hate the autocrat neo Nazi Trump
HHB.
It’s a grand mole team to play for.
TURKEYBHOY
If we are paying all of Duffy’s wages we will see all of Duffy on the park all of the time .
🦔 🦔 🦔
JERSEYBHOYS on 22ND OCTOBER 2020 1:16 PM
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Did you stay behind?
An interesting question asked on previous thread re Sevco having had zero impact from Covid-19 so far.
My understanding is in 3 parts ….
Truly desperate organisations resort to truly desperate measures
Organisations (or their facsimiles) who, in the past, have cheated on an industrial scale are often likely to repeat
A handful of employees (all of whom are in their 20s and live alone) are being swabbed daily and these have been labelled as “From player X” and sent for testing.
Could it really be happening?
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 22ND OCTOBER 2020 12:19 PM
Apology for what? speaking the truth…. He should be the one apologising….
Last time we saw Mikey Johnston
In his press conference yesterday Neil did confirm that Julien and Eddie are still unavailable although Christie is back in the squad. I think we should change shape to a 4-5-1 and if so I’d stick Ajer over to right back, play Taylor at left back (not wing back, just stay back and defend!) with Duffy and Welsh as centre backs. For the 5 across the middle, Frimpong and Laxalt to be the 2 wide men of the 5 with a middle 3 of McGregor, Christie and Brown (although Turnbull and Soro both need to get their chance soon). Ajeti up front as he’s best at holding the ball up? Simples!
On a lighter/different note, one of my all time favourite songs is ” HANG ON SLOOPY” by The McCOYS in 1965.
In the Youtube video there is the band on stage and ONE Beautiful Girl dancing all alone…Oh my Days…she is so so SEXY !
What a mover and Looker. I am surprised that this video was allowed in 1965 ?
I think her name is “Christine” and she will be in her ” 70’s” now ?
I cant do the Link to the video, but if anyone can oblige that would be great ?
Give yourself a treat Bhoys…Great Song and a Superb dancing Christine LOL.
HH.
Dare say NFL has had to direct a finger at a hun or two in his time.