ROMAN IN THE GLOAMIN’

Christie admits playing Lazio & Co under lights is what makes being a Celtic player so special

RYAN CHRISTIE has hurtled around for 12 months on a European rollercoaster at Celtic Park.

Exhilarating heights have been scaled for Neil Lennon’s men (right) with wins over RB Leipzig and CFR Cluj in the Europa League.

During the same period, he’s also had gut-churning lows such as being carted off the pitch on a strecther fearing serious injury during the RB Salzburg game.

Christie’s constantly been swept up and down. He bagged four goals in three games in the Champions League qualifiers, yet still ended up in despair after being dumped out.

Gripping on tightly through the white-knuckle adventure, the 24-year-old has packed more into a year than some players do in their entire careers.

But, if Christie and his team-mates can produce a Champions League-level super show to lash Lazio in tonight’s Europa crunch, it might just prove to be the most memorable 90-minute ride of the lot.

Reflecting on what’s gone before, he said: “These are the games I have enjoyed the most, definitely. I’ve said before the Leipzig game is the best atmosphere I’ve played in at Celtic Park. Starting the game and winning it made it a brilliant night.

“Then you think back to the Cluj game and the frustration of that in the qualifiers, you think more of the Leipzig night. You want nights like that at the club.

“Everyone knows how much is said about the atmosphere, but if you get a chance to play in it, you have to grasp it.”

Then looking ahead, Christie added: “It just feels like a really big game. Lazio have been a big name in European football for years upon years as have Celtic.

“It will probably take a

Champions League type performance to win it. “When I watched the draw for this, and saw the teams that were coming out, you realised how many big names from around Europe were in the competition.

“There were big ties to be had. It’s exciting for us. That’s why we want to go as far as we can in this competition.

“I don’t want to speak too early, but the way we’ve started the group with a good result in Rennes and a home win against Cluj, we are starting to build a bit of momentum in Europe.

“It’s important now that we try and continue that.”