O'Neill guards against Euro complacency
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has warned his team that Barcelona are a very different proposition to the side beaten in the UEFA Cup last season.
The Parkhead boss watched Hoops hero Henrik Larsson make his debut for the Catalan club in the win over Racing Santander on Sunday.
Barca will open their Champions League campaign in Glasgow on September 14 and the Celtic boss maintains any thoughts of complacency after the UEFA Cup fourth-round win last season must be dismissed to achieve any success.
O’Neill told the club’s official website, www.celticfc.net: “I watched Barcelona at the weekend and they were fantastic against Racing Santander.
“They took Henrik off after 62 minutes and then scored two goals after that.
“They also did that without Ronaldinho and Edmilson, who’s come in from Lyon and has still to play for them.
“Then, there is Silvinho, who has still to come in.
“Last year, I thought they were a class side and they got on a run, probably a bit too late to do damage in trying to win the championship.
“But the way they performed at the weekend and the strength they’ve got now is incredible.
“Samuel Samuel Eto’o is an absolute handful. Giuly from Monaco is different class and they’ve improved their team three-fold again from last season.”
