I will go over the top if we can win in Spain
ON SUNDAY evening, the high of a last-minute victory carried Scott Brown over an advertising hoarding and straight into an early dressing-room return.
He argues that only those who play the game for high stakes could fully understand the emotion that led to his red card at Kilmarnock. It was a powerful force — a feeling that could only be topped this week if the most extraordinary comeback was achieved in tonight’s Europa League last-32 second leg against Valencia.
Somewhat bizarrely, the Celtic captain approaches this almighty task in strong scoring form. Previously without a goal for more than two years, he has recently managed two in the space of eight days to bolster his side’s continuing domestic dominance.
The second of those secured a 1-0 win at Rugby Park that kicked Brendan Rodgers’ men eight points clear at the top of the Premiership. Eight-in-a-row was not quite sealed in that moment, but Celtic could suddenly smell the silver polish.
Brown received a second booking from referee Bobby Madden for leaving the pitch, not by much, in joyous celebration after his deflected strike. It became all the more noticeable because away fans rushed out from the stand behind the goal to greet him.
The 33-year-old feels there is inconsistency in who is and isn’t punished for that kind of offence. But the experience seems unlikely to make him curtail his joy if he can find the net again in the Mestalla to help Celtic chase down a two-goal deficit.
‘On Sunday, we got the result that we wanted whether it was a last-minute goal or a first-minute goal,’ reflected Brown. ‘For me, it had been a long time since I’d scored and then I got two in a week, so it was emotional.
‘I tried to stop myself before I went over the board but, as soon as you score, the lads go towards you and I was either going to collapse into the board or jump over it.
‘I jumped over it and I didn’t run to the fans. They ran to me.
‘A lot of people made a big issue of it, but I was happy with the result and I was happy with my celebration. To be honest, it’s probably people who have never kicked a ball in their lives who are sitting in the house being keyboard warriors, but I’m doing a job I love and it’s a celebration at the end of the day.
‘A few guys have got away with it, but I understand the rule — especially if there are kids at the front of the stand and there are people there getting squashed.
‘You don’t want to see people sprinting onto the park or anything, but I didn’t exactly sprint off to them. ‘I jumped over a hoarding, but as soon as I did it I saw Bobby with his cards out. I just walked off. ‘Some referees might give you a booking, some might not, it’s just your luck. ‘Bobby did what the rule says if you go off a tiny bit, but everyone has to be in the same boat, although I know it is hard for referees to be consistent like that.’ Brown revealed team-mate Jonny Hayes had tried to shield him from the inevitable — with comic results. ‘Jonny tried to save me,’ the midfielder grinned. ‘He tried to put me underneath his wing, kid on I wasn’t there and say: “I think we’ve got away with this, pal”.
‘I’ve turned around and Bobby is standing right there. I said: “Jonny, turn around”. He said: “Yeah, you’re in trouble...”.’ Brown’s Europa League hopes are in similar peril. Having never won in Spain in their rich European history, Celtic require the miracle of the Mestalla to progress to the last 16.
They have no chance if they play like they did in the first leg. Goals from Denis Cheryshev and Ruben Sobrino were a deserved reward for Valencia’s superiority.
Brown is clear about the need for improvement as he pursues what would surely count as his greatest continental result.
‘Years ago, I signed because I wanted to play Champions League and I wanted to play in the Europa League, whether it is against Valencia or anyone else,’ said the Parkhead skipper, who moved from Hibs in 2007.
‘It is a great opportunity for everyone, but it is going to be hard with us being 2-0 down from the first leg. We need the first goal to try and put them under pressure and see if we can play.
‘We’ll need to be more patient with the ball, we gave it away too much last week, so we need to be more controlled in possession and press them a bit better than we did as well.
‘We usually turn these scorelines over when the second leg is at home, but this is different.
‘The pitch is a bowling green, the stadium looks good and the fans will be with us, so we need to make sure we go out and give a good performance.
‘Last week we started really well for the first 20 or 25 minutes so I think we have to try and build on that.
‘As I say, we need to try and keep a clean sheet, score the first goal and take it from there.’
Reminded of Celtic’s record of woe on Spanish soil, Brown quipped: ‘Thanks for that. Can this be the first win? Hopefully.
‘It’s always a hard place to come and Valencia are a quality team. We will have to be on top of our game but we learned a lot last week about how they play and how we can match up against them.
‘Our second-half performance last week wasn’t up to scratch. But we can go again after recharging the batteries.’
I didn’t run to the fans after jumping over the hoarding. They ran to me