O'Neill bemoans his Champions League luck
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill admits Champions League Group F has a formidable look about it – with or without Henrik Larsson among the opposition.
The Hoops have been handed glamour ties against Barcelona and AC Milan in the group stages with an awkward trip to Ukraine for a match with Shakhtar Donetsk also on the horizon.
The return of Swedish striker Larsson to Parkhead will provide the romantic element to Celtic’s group but the Hoops boss insists it is better to be involved - no matter who the opposition are.
O’Neill said: “It is great to be in the Champions League, but we couldn’t have asked for a much tougher group, that is just our luck really, but let’s just enjoy it. It means two wonderful evenings for the supporters at Celtic Park.
“We know a little bit less about Donetsk but we will know about them by the time we play them. It is a real tall order but these games are worth looking forward to.
“I said a couple of weeks ago that I’m happy to be in the Champions League and it is always better to be in than out.”
But Celtic will not be fazed by a trip to the Nou Camp after defeating Barca in the UEFA Cup last season.
The Hoops earned a single-goal win in the fourth round, first leg in March through Alan Thompson’s goal. A supreme display in Spain – where teenage goalkeeper David Marshall performed heroics – then produced a goalless draw and the Hoops were able to progress.
Celtic have only played Italian giants AC Milan once before. The two clubs were paired in the 1968-69 European Cup quarter-final.
The Glasgow side earned a hard-fought goalless draw at the San Siro but an 11th-minute strike from Milan striker Pierino Prati handed the Italians victory after Celtic captain Billy McNeill had failed to control a Jim Craig throw-in.
Celtic will be meeting Shakhtar Donetsk for the very first time.
