Manager's sympathy for fans Newsroom Staff
AS Celtic await a final decision on where the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie against AC Milan will be held, Gordon Strachan has expressed his sympathy for the Celtic supporters who have booked up to travel to Italy.
With a final decision expected by Tuesday, the Celtic manager also put on record his appreciation for the efforts fans go to in order to follow the team.
“I know how much this is going to cost the supporters because my brother-in-law and sister go everywhere to see Celtic and I know how much they have to save up,” said the manager.
“It really is hard work for them to follow Celtic and I know how much it means to them to do that.
“But it’s a huge financial commitment and my brother-in-law has to work overtime and save his money up to go on these trips.
“But we all know that these circumstances are beyond the control of anyone, it’s just an unusual situation that we wish had never come about.”
The Celtic boss insisted, however, that his players, and the Milan players, will be totally focused on winning the game regardless of where it may be played and under what circumstances.
“I was saying to the lads that I had played in something quite similar to this when Leeds United played Stuttgart after Stuttgart had fielded an ineligible player,” explained Strachan.
“We then had to go to Barcelona to play the game at the Nou Camp, which at that point took about 108,000 and there was only five or six thousand people there. It was like playing in an empty stadium, but the game itself was not a problem.
“The players were so focused that it didn’t matter about the crowd, so it doesn’t matter where we play them. I think we will be focused enough and they (AC Milan) are so professional that they could play anywhere. They could play their games on a training field and they would still have that intensity about them.”
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, meanwhile, is hoping that the game will go ahead in the San Siro.
The Dutch striker, who played there twice for PSV Eindhoven, including the semi-final of the Champions League in 2005, said: “I’ve played there twice and it’s a big stadium. It’s great when it’s full of supporters and I hope that’s the case next month when Celtic play there.
“It’s up to UEFA and everyone else involved. You play football because you enjoy it and with fans watching. It would be good if the supporters can get in.
“The boys in the dressing room all want to play in front of a full stadium. It’s a big game and you don’t play too many like this during the season.
“When you do play them, you don’t want to do behind closed doors, when it is silent. The Celtic supporters can lift you up and you get something extra from playing in front of big crowds. I hope it goes ahead as planned.”
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