I have to admit I thought some of the quotes to emerge on social media from the world’s greatest players about Celtic Park were perhaps apocryphal. That concern was laid to rest on Barcelona’s website today as the team boarded a flight from the rainy Catalan capital, Leonel Messi on-board, alas.
Their article, titled, “FC Barcelona players ‘just can’t get enough’ of Celtic Park”, reads like a fantasy piece typed on a green and white keyboard.
“Xavi Hernández once said: “I don’t think I have seen anything like the Celtic fans in all the stadiums I have played at. When you step out at Celtic Park, the atmosphere they create for their team is incredible. It doesn’t matter how many big games you have played in, walking out into that atmosphere is always intense.””
Messi added, “I’ve been fortunate to play in some great stadiums in Europe with Barcelona but none compare to Celtic” he said after the game in 2013. The Argentinian has also been quoted as admitting that “I have a Celtic jersey at home. The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them.”
Playmaker Iniesta said, “They were amazing, not quiet for a single second! The Celtic fans are very special and the club and players can be very proud of them. They are the best I have ever heard.” While Pique wrote, “no words to describe the atmosphere at Celtic Park”.
The article concludes, “Whatever the outcome on Wednesday night, one thing is for sure. There’s going to be a show, and the Glasgow Celtic (and Barça) will be there.”
This kind of respect has been earned the hard way. The game which kicked it all off, Celtic’s 1-0 win in 2004, wasn’t a pleasant affair. Three men were red carded and Barcelona were bitter about the pitch, their treatment and the luck which fell their way, but when the sublime Ronaldinho was substituted with two minutes remaining the home support gave him a memorable reception.
We lost 1-3 to them the following year in a game which still rankles. After levelling we had them on the rack for a period, but two late moments of slackness allowed Barcelona to take the points.
When Barca returned in the Champions League knock-out rounds in 2008 we absolutely battered them for 45 minutes. Barry Robson had been a Dundee United player a few weeks earlier but scored peach of a header to give Celtic a 2-1 halftime lead. We’d peaked too soon and were caught out by our gung-ho approach.
The 2-1 win on our 125th birthday will live long in the memory. It was probably the most intense occasion Celtic Park had ever experienced. Arguably the greatest team to play the game applied suffocating pressure as they tried to overcome an 18th minute concession. I doubt any team has ever faced such a formidable foe who passed and prodded with such intensity.
Regrets also linger from our 0-1 defeat with 10 men three years ago when a rash moment from Scott Brown was exploited by the writhing Neymar. Charlie Mulgrew’s header from a corner kick came close to handing the 10 men a remarkable point.
We’re not in Barcelona’s league in any literal or metaphorical sense, but tomorrow’s another occasion to earn points the hard way.
297 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
Fan …. big (okay … biggish) game tonight … the 401 Derby … Montreal hosting Toronto in the MLS semifinal … should be fun. over 60,000 tickets sold for the game in Montreal! ..
but, you probably knew that already…d’oh!
1-1 Sporting Real
Collum pointed to the spot.
7-3
7-4
Willie got the pen decision right
7-4 Dortmund, 85 mins. Game just starting to open up.
2-1 Juve
MIKE IN TORONTO
It’s on espn2 here so will watch.
MLS has improved greatly in the last few seasons.
TIMREAPER
Both defenses look poor but wonderful entertainment.
Vincent Janssen oh dear. £18 mill…
SEBO SEBO SEBO
8-4
TIMREAPER
Both teams are guilty of having their mids and defenders in 2 straight lines and a little to far apart.
This allows to many diagonal one twos and with the skill of forwards on show there are ripe pickings.
As i type Dortmund scores again.8-4
Blantyre ….DN played his entire career on the west coast, so with the limited TV and time difference, I haven’t seen a lot of him. But, from what I have seen, small but solid and technically not a bad midfiielder. High draft pick when came out of college, but my sense is that he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. Having said that, he has been called up to US national team, and they aren’t a bad team (recent few results notwithstanding) so he cant be a bad player …
as I was saying the other day, I would bite your had off for the other american midfielder, Bradley, but I think he is on about 4 million pounds a year at TFC … so way out of Celtic’s snack bracket.
Spurs oot
3-1 Juve
Cheers Mike
Suppose we’ve got Dortmund to thank for removing us from the most goals conceded UEFA stats for 2016?
Seen closer 5-a-side games!
Reading back. If there is a planning consent application for nets under the roofs at Ibrox. And a procurement contract out looking for suppliers bids.
Never mind high winds and rain in February.
A heavy snow fall , structural load on the roof, heavy heavy
Its not good. Tims don’t go
SAINT STIVS
Not read back – was it a Section 89 Application to GCC?
MIT
My nephew who also watches the Toronto team, raves about some wee Italian that plays for them
Giavenco ? Or something, he says superb on the ball, lacks height and pace or would be playing at top level ?
Hail Hail
Blantyretim, from earlier.
I share your view on Fabregas.
Dortmund fans dsplayed a banner with Football without fans s nothing tonight.
I’m not sure if they were using it as part of some demonstration or not.
Cowiebhoy
Giovinco was a regular in the Italy squad until he went to the MLS.
Cowiebhoy
How ya doing pal?
Giovinco is a great little player …. I saw him at Juve, but didn’t realize quite how good his touch is….. as you say small, but is a magician with the ball …. you aren’t 5’6″ or so, and play up front for Juve and Italy without some great skill …. but what I like most about him is he has a great attitude … never stops working, and when he gets fouled (which is alot), he just bounces back up, and gets on with it. … but, he is on 12 million a year, I believe, … so, he aint cheap!
his strike partner, Altidore, is the opposite…. a monster of a man …. on his day, he reminds me of a young drogba … but not as consistent as Giovinco ..
but I think Montreal will be set up to stop Giovinco, so Altidore will get a bit of space, and will be the game winner for TFC
I missed two goals tonight. I have to buy Pampers nappies for the next Legia game.
zbyzek .. ha! post of the day! Days like that, you have to be able to laugh about it.
How the flip can a football match finish 8-4
Sus
St. stivs … I wish every football match ended 8-4!
Stivs- Celtic supporters thinking of going to ibrox need absolute assurance that it’s safe to do so. The club have a duty of care. The issue can’t be avoided much longer.
There are many reasons I wouldn’t visit that cesspool again, but putting my life at risk has generally been the clincher in the past. And it now seems worse than ever.
Barca TV turned up in 67 looking for crap about how our fans get on.
As soon as I said Barca and Real are bigger tax dodgers than Sevco and are ruining European fitba…. It was cut cut …. Hey, Obviously mentioning Sevco ain’t right….
Aberdeen still have tickets for Sunday. They’ve sold out all their allocation for the North and south stands, with those left all in the west stand.
It’s professional football these clubs have ain’t it, have they some aversion to maximising attendances ?
Week after week, Celtic supporters are left scrabbling for tickets, is it beyond these clubs to think smart and aim to sell out their grounds ?
That lot at Hampden, should start to filter tickets down to clubs, it’d allow them to monitor sales and adjust accordingly.
Surely not too much to ask ?
Yours truly will be at the car park, hoping for a ticket.
Darlington Nagbe was born in Liberia but left the country as a five-month-old when his mother fled the country due to the First Liberian Civil War, taking him and his brother with her. They then joined her husband Joe Nagbe, a professional footballer, and his career took the family to France, Greece and Switzerland before they eventually settled in the Cleveland, Ohio area in 2001 when Darlington was 11 years old.
He grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, where he attended Lakewood High School and then St. Edward High School, a private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio.
It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the Holy Cross tradition by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana.
It is one of three remaining all-male Catholic high schools in the Greater Cleveland area, the school’s mascot is the Eagle and school colors are green and gold.
At this time of night my thoughts turn to one of Europe’s finest players Juan Merzlippe. neary there bhoys and ghirls….
Caltontongues on 22nd November 2016 10.26pm
Well said, why is it so difficult for others?
Don’t draw breath, I know. Hypnotism – glad I make do with an out of date freeview tv from what I read here.
SAINT STIVS
Based on the mssm recommendations Legia borrowed the huns back four of Tavs Kierney Hilly and Wally.
Dortmund in trying to be fair played with Senderos and Wilson.
Bcw- thinking back to the days when places like Easter road had standing areas behind the goal, maybe half the main stand also went to Celtic supporters. You’re right, we would fill every away ground to capacity if allowed to do so.
Is it police instruction that prevents it?
It makes little sense.
How is the Sevco boycott of other clubs going?
THey really are a determined bunch. They follow follow through with their campaigns. We Deserve Better, show liquidation the red card, show us ra deeds…. no surrender (ok do surrender)
Staunch as feck so they ur