O'Dea: We will be up for Rangers clash
Defender Darren O’Dea insists Celtic will bounce back for Sunday’s Old Firm clash despite their Champions League heartbreak in Milan.
A goal by Brazilian striker Kaka three minutes into extra time was enough to take the Italian club through to the quarter-finals although the home side survived two decent penalty claims.
O’Dea, 20, is confident the Hoops will regroup for the visit of Rangers in the Bank of Scotland Premier League at the weekend.
He said: “It was a desperately disappointing end to our campaign and there was a lot of emotion in our dressing room.
“We really felt we did enough over the two legs to go through.
“In the end the breaks just didn’t go our way but there is a great feeling of pride as well.
“We are a very close-knit team and are all proud to have been a part of it.
“It is a sore one but we will come back.
“We have to pick ourselves up with the Rangers game coming up at the weekend and we will do that.
“It’s difficult for us just now but we have a massive match to look forward to.”
Controversy over Celtic’s penalty claims will linger, especially the first appeal in the sixth minute when AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini made a two-handed block of a Jiri Jarosik shot.
However, O’Dea was reluctant to lambast Austrian referee Konrad Plautz.
He added: “We looked as if we had a good penalty claim but that’s football.
“When we needed a little bit of luck we didn’t get it. It was definitely a handball by Maldini and I turned to the referee to appeal.
“However, in fairness he was in a difficult position and looking through a ruck of bodies so it was difficult for him to see it properly.”
