Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I won’t be a Stig of the hump
MIKAEL LUSTIG admits he doesn’t care if Celtic win ugly in their quest to make the Champions League group stages. The Swedish right-back is well aware of the bitter disappointment of failing to gatecrash Europe’s elite tournament. Back-to-back defeats from NK Maribor, of Slovenia, and Sweden’s Malmo left the Hoops in the wilderness during Ronny Deila’s two-year reign. That changed last season, although Lustig conceded nerves were frayed before overcoming Israel’s Hapoel Be’er Sheva to qualify for the £30million clashes against Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach. The 30-year-old defender will be back at Lennoxtown later this week after international duty with his country that saw the Swedes beat France 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier. There has been little respite, but Lustig said: “To be honest, most summers are like that for me. “But I don’t mind that. In some ways, it makes it easier because you are not coming back chasing your fitness, you are just coming back to get going again. “In any case, I think when you are winning and we have just had a season like the one we did then I think everyone goes back feeling good about themselves. “There is never too much chance to stop and think about what you have done when you are playing. “It was a special season, but the real chance to appreciate it is probably only going to come when you stop playing and get a chance to truly reflect.”