Pierre: Tommy’s Celts had no one like Bri.. he was different class
PIERRE VAN HOOIJDONK reckons Celtic would have wrecked Rangers’ run to nine in a row if it wasn’t for Brian Laudrup.
The former Hoops hero was part of the Tommy Burns side that ran Rangers close in the 90s but couldn’t halt the charge.
The Dutchman believes Celts were more than a match for their rivals but great Dane Laudrup was the difference.
Van Hooijdonk, speaking to Kris Boyd and Robert Snodgrass on the Lockdown Tactics podcast, said: “We maybe didn’t feel we were a better team than Rangers but we felt we were more of a team.
“But Rangers had pure class in their individual players who could easily win games for them.
“Around November time we felt we were really a force, probably stronger.
“But again, they had Laudrup. He was different class. He p ***** the Scottish league, with two fingers in his nose.
“Seriously, I’d never seen a guy playing on the highest level make football look so easy.
“If necessary, he just put his feet on the gas pedals and boom. Or he would create something special. He was magnificent.”
Celtic took huge strides under Burns but couldn’t get over the finishing line.
Van Hooijdonk said: “Rangers had dominated Scottish football for a few years and nobody expected us to change that immediately.
“We came unbelievably
BY MICHAEL GANNON close to winning the league but we didn’t. Not winning the league the following season was probably more frustrating because you recognised your own team as capable of winning it.
“What was missing in our group? Maybe the experience of winning. The top players at Rangers had all played for big clubs in Europe and there was always pressure on them to win the title.
“The players Celtic signed were very good but they came from smaller clubs. You have to adapt to that winning attitude and it takes time.”
Burns couldn’t get his hands on the title before departing in 1997 but van Hooijdonk was thrilled to help win the Scottish Cup.
The big striker headed the winner against Airdrie in 1995 before hobbling off.
He added: “It was a horrible final, we didn’t play well. But I was so happy we won. It was great for Tommy and the supporters.
“The day I signed for Celtic, I was at the hotel having dinner with my family and Tommy arrived with a pile of video tapes and photographs and told me to find out about the history of the club.
“He ended up staying for a bite to eat with my parents, a nice introduction to a great club.”
The Lockdown Tactics is partnered with The Kris Boyd Charity. For full Van Hooijdonk interview see YouTube and TLT socials from 4pm today.