Paul Lambert is convinced Celtic Park can help the Hoops put on a performance against Europe’s best but Champions League success will rest on Ange Postecoglou taking the show on the road.
The former Hoops captain knows what’s required to conquer the continent after lifting the Big Cup in 1997 with Borussia Dortmund. Lambert was also part of the Celtic side who reached the UEFA Cup Final in Seville in 2003. Both runs had similar traits – with a canny knack of picking up results away from home.
Celtic’s European form outside Glasgow has been notoriously ropy but they could do with picking up points in Poland when they face Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday on the back of last week’s defeat to Real Madrid. With a trip to Germany to take on RB Leipzig to follow, it’s time to prove Angeball can travel. Lambert said: “When we got to the final of the UEFA Cup in 2003 we played well away from home against Celta Vigo, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Boavista.
“That is the main thing Celtic need to do – get something away from home. If they can get something on Wednesday night and take care of the home games they have a chance.
“Getting something, away from home. That is the key. When Borussia Dortmund won it we picked up points away from home. We won away at Steaua Bucharest, Manchester United and Auxerre. You have to do that.
“If Celtic lose on Wednesday they’ll be six points down already. They have to get points away from home. Leipzig are hitting a bit of form with Marco Rose going in there as manager. Donetsk I always thought would be a danger and Real Madrid was the bells and whistles game.”
This week will be a real marker for Celtic. The Real Madrid performance earned plenty of plaudits but the Spanish giants still won with room to spare. Just 24 hours later Rangers were given a chasing by Ajax, prompting boss Gio van Bronckhorst to claim his side couldn’t compete at Champions League level due to the gulf in finances between the clubs.
It’s a theory that Lambert understands – but doesn’t necessarily agree with. He knows there are some great levellers, like the power generated by 60,000 fans at Parkhead.
Lambert – who skippered Celts on the road to Seville – said: “I understand where Gio is coming from because Ajax sell guys worth €200million or whatever. Forget finances. It’s ridiculous people go for so much money but you’ve got to try and make an impact somehow.
“Probably the big thing is the way they got beat. Celtic got beat by three but they put a fight up, that’s probably riled the manager of Rangers more than anything else. I think Celtic can compete. Listen, Celtic can give anyone a game here because of the support they have. But you are up against a totally different animal in Real Madrid.
“Carlo Ancelotti is the greatest and most successful manager in the Champions League and he said this is a tough place to come. Celtic did great the other night and Callum (McGregor) hit the post. If that goes in it gives them something to hang on to. Then you might get a little shock result.
“But as the game went on they started to boss it, which you expect because of the team they are and the players they have got. But Celtic can certainly compete.”
Lambert is convinced Donetesk and Leipzig won’t fancy coming to Glasgow. Ange Postecoglou will be thinking exactly the same thing after seeing Real rattled for an hour the other night. Lambert said: “Ange will know Celtic can compete here simply because of the support – they will drive you on and on.
“But you could see his disappointment after losing 3-0 to Real Madrid. Nobody wants a pat on the back or to be told you did well. You want a result. The disappointment in his face was there for everybody to see – but that’s a good thing because you’re playing Real Madrid.
“He’ll know teams will find it hard coming here. Big, big teams will get results because of the teams they are and the money they have spent, but this is a really difficult place to get a result.”
Paul Lambert was speaking at the launch of Wim Jansen’s book MASTERMIND. Wim was Celtic manager in 1997/98 and won the League to deny Rangers 10-in-a-row. Wim passed away in January.
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