Hoops 'will be ready for Champions challenge'
Gary Caldwell insists Celtic will be ready for the challenge of the Champions League this season.
The Hoops will be in pot two for the draw in Monaco and could be paired with former winners Manchester United and Real Madrid or current holders Barcelona.
However, Celtic have failed to find any consistency so far this year term a disappointing pre-season.
But, as the club close in on the signatures of Wolves full-back Lee Naylor and PSV Eindhoven striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, the 23-year-old believes Gordon Strachan’s squad is being shaped for the rigours of Europe’s premier tournament.
And the former Hibernian man is relishing the draw tomorrow – no matter who the club are paired with.
Caldwell said: “I do not mind who we get in the Champions League.
“There are massive clubs in the draw and that is why we want to be a part of it and play against some of the biggest teams in the world.
“We are guaranteed at least one massive club and will take what we get.
“Playing against any of these teams would give me a buzz. I do not have a preference, whoever comes out of the hat will be huge and will have a history in the European Cup.
“We will have to play against them and beat them to progress, but there is no preference – we will just take what we get.
“Every player in the Champions League looks forward to the draw to see what teams they get and who they will come up against.
“We are all looking forward to the challenge. It is so exciting as a player to go to these massive stadiums.”
Celtic have agreed fees with both Wolves and PSV for Naylor and Vennegoor of Hesselink respectively and Caldwell believes both will prove to be quality additions.
He said: “The manager knows he needs players to strengthen the squad.
“I am sure he knows what he wants and will get them before the transfer deadline, so we will be prepared for the challenge ahead.
“You want good players around you and want to be tested to keep your position.
“At a club like Celtic, you need that and, hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will get them.”
Celtic skipper Neil Lennon is looking for a kind draw but would also relish a clash with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
He said: “I am looking forward to the draw.
“We have played a lot of great sides over the years, it is a very special competition and everyone is looking forward to it.
“Over the years, out of all the big teams we have played against, the one that’s missing is probably Real Madrid.
“That would be a nice draw and it would be good if we got some of the easier teams – that is if there are any easy teams in the Champions League.
“I just hope that the draw is kind to us this year because we have had a couple of tough groups over the years and hopefully we will be looking at a draw that gives us a fighting chance of getting through.”
Fortunately Celtic will avoid Chelsea, Lyon, Porto, Roma, Bayern Munich, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax, who are all drawn in the same pot.
But the Glasgow giants could be grouped with pot three sides like Sporting Lisbon, Bordeaux, Werder Bremen and Olympiacos.
Pot four will contain teams such as Anderlecht and Galatasaray.
