Stubbs backs Hoops to improve
Former Celtic star Alan Stubbs has backed the club to hit back at criticism of their poor pre-season form.
Veteran Stubbs returns with Everton to Parkhead tomorrow for a friendly – the first time he will have played at the stadium since his departure in 2001 after a long battle against cancer.
Stubbs is well aware that his old club have been hammered in recent weeks for a run of pre-season results that has yet to see them win in five games while scoring only twice. Their worst defeat was a 4-0 hammering in the United States by DC United.
But Stubbs said: “They have not had the results they would have liked and Gordon Strachan has said that the scoreline is not important, it’s all about preparation and fitness.
“But people will always make more out of results than is necessary at this stage and when you are a club like Celtic, everything is big news.
“It’s a massive club worldwide, and that is why people are negative about them immediately something goes a bit wrong.
“But Celtic always rise above it and they will do this time, I have no doubts.”
Everton are unbeaten after three warm-up games, and Stubbs is looking forward to his return to Glasgow.
He said: “There’s no reason why we can’t put in a good performance, with the match on TV the lads will be wanting to show what they can do.
“There is always an edge in games between Scottish and English clubs, it will be a fast game because they have played a few games in the States, but we are all looking forward to it.”
Stubbs admits it will be an emotional return for him. It was towards the end of his five-year spell at Parkhead that he was first diagnosed with cancer, a battle the 34-year-old has finally won.
But the veteran centre-back recalls those dark days in his life that saw him have many months of treatment. During that time the support from Celtic and their fans has never been forgotten by the Liverpool-born star.
Now he will play at Celtic for the first time since leaving the club in 2001, and says: “This will be an emotional day for me, I’d be lying if I said otherwise.
“After the help they gave me at Celtic, it would be wrong for me not to feel that way. They are a fantastic club, with fantastic supporters and fantastic people behind the scenes.
“I am really looking forward to the game. I have been back to Celtic a lot of times as a supporter but this will be the first time I have been back as a player and the first time I will be able to say thank you in person for the help and support they all gave me when I was there at a very difficult time for me.
“Sometimes it is hard to put your thanks into words, and I am sure I will get a decent reception.
“Since I knew we were playing at Celtic in pre-season, it is a game I have looked forward to very much. There will be a good size crowd and I am looking forward to playing at Parkhead again.”
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