Lustig’s Rosenborg return
Lustig explains how his old side also have proud Euro pedigree
MIKAEL LUSTIG made contention. domestic history as a Rosenborg Invincible. Yet that failed to spare him from the burden of European history at a club desperate to clamber its way back into Champions League
The Celtic defender tried twice to help the Norwegians into the group phase of the tournament. Twice they were knocked out in qualifying — by FC Copenhagen in 2010 and, despite a Lustig goal, Viktoria Plzen in 2011.
Rosenborg were group phase regulars eight years in a row, including a quarter-final run in 1997, during a period of domestic dominance that saw them rack up a remarkable 13 successive league titles.
Their last appearance in the Champions League, however, was in 2007/08 before Lustig arrived in Trondheim. And he felt the pressure of living up to the legacy of a group of unlikely European Cup legends that turned Rosenborg into established fixtures in the competition.
Rosenborg will arrive in Glasgow this week to take on Lustig and Celtic having qualified for the second-rate Europa League only once in the last four seasons. They were eliminated by St Johnstone in 2013/14. Lustig believes Celtic will confront a highly motivated group of his former colleagues intent on creating their own golden era to go down in club folklore.
The Swedish international explained: ‘Back when they were qualifying all the time they were a little bit like Celtic in 1967, there were 11 local players in the starting line-up. There’s no doubt they’re the best team in Norway but they have struggled in Europe in recent years.
‘Back then, if they won the Norwegian league, they went right into the groups or had one or two qualifiers. But now they have four qualifying rounds. It’s a different kind of game these days.
‘I tried twice at Rosenborg. We were really close once but we didn’t make it. But it’s harder for Rosenborg to compete these days. The smaller nations are also getting richer now.
‘They had a really good team back then, though. And that made it hard to be a Rosenborg player who came after those teams because people always talked about the history and thought it was better before.
‘Being burdened by history can be a good thing as well. Because, of course, you want to play with a club with a strong history, who have a good fan base and play in the Champions League.
‘But it is hard to live up to it. The fact the fans still expect it makes it a little bit hard for the players. They’re still the biggest club in Norway and they still have to win the league or it’s a big disappointment. Which makes the Champions League a massive thing for them.
‘But they haven’t even been in the Europa League much over the last few seasons either, so they really need it just now. They’re really hungry to get back in to the Champions League. Hopefully we can stop them.’
Lustig signed a pre-contract with Neil Lennon’s Celtic within three months of his second Champions League setback in Norway, creating a cast-iron pathway for the full-back to enjoy regular European club football.
The 30-year-old is eyeing a fourth Champions League campaign, confident that Brendan Rodgers has Treble-winners Celtic firing early this summer replete with the class to nullify any fitness edge a Rosenborg side in mid-season brings to the tie.
‘It’s a tough draw,’ said Lustig. ‘They have a couple of really good players but, hopefully, we can take advantage of the fact we’re at home first. At Celtic Park we’ll go for it straight away.
‘It’ll be interesting to see what their game plan is, whether they go for it here or try to get a result to take back with them. Either way we need to be at our best.
‘They are already into their season. But that doesn’t make it any easier for them in the qualifiers. We have more quality in this team and more money to spend as well, so it’s easier for a club like Celtic to reach the groups.
‘But I think Rosenborg will know it’s a tough draw and it will be a brilliant atmosphere here. They’re playing against a tough team with energy and confidence, so hopefully they are going to struggle again.’
For Lustig, a relatively short hop north for a friendly reception at one of his former clubs is most welcome compared to the qualifying travels of recent seasons. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Israel have featured on Celtic’s competitive summer travels lately. Windsor Park was not in any way neighbourly last week, so Lustig is grateful for a second-leg
test at the Lerkendal Stadium against Kare Ingebrigtsen’s outfit.
‘I had a really good three-and-ahalf years there,’ he said. ‘But I left on a free transfer, so I’m not sure what welcome I will get!
‘I had a really strong connection with the fans and I’m looking forward to going back. They still have two or three players from my time and I still know a lot of people around the club, so it will be special for me.
‘It’s a nice stadium with good fans but it’s not like we’re travelling for six hours and having to play in 40-degree heat. It’s a two-hour flight and the pitch will be decent so, from that point of view, it’s good.’