Eddie Cassidy on Celtic’s return to the Champions League

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Del Piero, Nedved, Davids, Ballack, Kahn, Eto, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Messi, Henry, Xavi, Iniesta, Kaka, Shevchenko, Inzaghi, Pirlo, Seedorf, Fabregas, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, Tevez and Ronaldo.

A list of some of the greatest players to have graced the game of football over the past 10 years, a list of players who I have greatly enjoyed watching display their skills on the European club and international stages. The cream of the crop of footballers. It’s also a list of players I’ve shouted “boo, you overrated diving b*stards” at from my seat at Parkhead. The song line “most of the football greats, have passed through Parkhead’s gates” can honestly be said to be true, well for the past 10 years at least, and this is because of the Champions League.

Club football’s top competition returns to Celtic Park this week after too long away, and we can finally dust off the huge silver sheet and our Handel CD to blast out Zadok the Priest before kick off.

The atmosphere at these games is truly fantastic, and I can honestly say that this is the most excited I’ve been for a season in a few years, absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder when it comes to these games. And, with the lack of Old Firm games to look forward to for the next few years, Champions League qualification becomes vital for Celtic, from both an excitement and financial point of view.

The draw has put Celtic together with teams we have met in European competition over the past few years, meeting Barca (1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses), Benfica (two wins, two losses) and Spartak Moscow (two draws) again.

To be honest, while I am just happy to be there, I’m a little disappointed with the draw. When watching the live draw I can honestly say I would have been over the moon to have been placed in the “group of death” with Real Madrid, Man City and Ajax – taking Dortmund’s place as the fourth seed. We played Ajax many years ago, but it would be nice to see how we got on against the champions of the two best leagues in the world and would have given the group stage a “fresher” feel.

It goes without saying that Barcelona are favourites, despite new signing Efe Ambrose’s hilarious statements that he can handle Messi no bother. Always nice to see some confidence in a new player!

I think Celtic’s home form gives us a half decent chance of finishing third and an outside chance of second and progression to the last 16. While away form has been improving recently, this is definitely a step up! If we can take third place and the chance to go on a few extra rounds of the Europa League then I will be happy enough!

However, whatever happens you can rest assured that the atmosphere at Parkhead for the three home games – and in the away ends of Barca, Benfica and Spartak’s stadiums will be top drawer. Even a fourth place finish will be enjoyed purely for the experience of mixing it with the big boys again.

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About the Author
Eddie Cassidy (eventually) started Stand Up Comedy in Aug 2009, after many years of threatening to, and since then has reached the Scottish Comedian of the Year final in 2010 less than 18 months after his first gig, and has since performed all over Scotland and parts of England including a gig to the out their nut audience at scotlands (2nd) biggest music festival Rockness.

A lifelong Celtic fan and former regular at Pollok Juniors Newlandsfield Ground, situated in the shadow of the high rises in his native Pollokshaws in Glasgow (where he once witnessed a sub knock out a fan in a penguin costume while warming up), he is also a lover of all football and while Celtic will always be his true love, he views the rest of the football world as a copy of nuts magazine, something to look at and enjoy with no emotional attachment! A keen fan of the Premiership, European and International Football he has developed crushes on Parma (around 1994) Dortmund (around 1997) Croatia (1998) Valencia (2001) Ghana (2006) Brentford Town (2009) and still looks out for their results, and like any other football fan currently loves watchin the greatest team of all time, Barcelona. He also has a love hate relationship with Arsenal, however has recently been casting admiring glances at Spurs.

Eddie’s achievements in football include a u15′s medal from the goals 5 a side leagues with the legendary AC Pollokshaws, and once scored 19 goals when 21 years old playing against a bunch of children while drunk.

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