Celts hoping for a Burns night repeat
IT’S an iconic image from an epic night. Tommy Burns leaping after victory against Spartak Moscow is a standout for Scott Brown in nearly a ton of games in Europe.
But the Hoops skipper reckons getting past Zenit in St Petersburg this evening would be right up there with Burns Night at Parkhead.
The penalty shootout win against the Russians 11 years ago is Brown’s most cherished moment in continental competition – when Gordon Strachan’s side squeezed into the Champions League group stage – and Hoops supporters’ hero Burns joined in with the wild celebrations.
Now the captain is convinced he could be in for another magical night as Celts look to finish the job following last week’s first-leg win at Parkhead.
Brown has never lost in three trips to Russia and said: “It could be a special night. One of the last times we faced a Russian side – when we played against Spartak – was one of the best.
“Winning on penalties and Tommy jumping on top of us in the celebrations was something special.
“If we get through against Zenit it will be right up there with that night. That was an emotional one, getting us into the Champions League.
“If we can get to the last 16 of the Europa League this year it would be fantastic for the club.
“It would be a big achievement when you see some of the teams that are in this competition at this stage. The likes of Atletico Madrid are there but we need to get through this one first.”
The Burns celebration has gone down in history but Brendan Rodgers sprinting down the touchline last week would have its own place if Celtic can make it to the Europa League last 16.
Brown said: “You could see how much it meant to the manager last week. It showed he loves the club and he believes in us. We played well on the day and everything felt right for us.
“Even things like the Europa League balls are fantastic. It was one of those nights. No one could quite believe it when we scored and we were all over each other in the celebrations.
“It was such a class goal. We managed to keep the ball and were composed as we passed it around and the finish from Callum McGregor was fantastic.”
Brown admitted Celtic will need another huge performance to seal the deal against Zenit. The Russians were rusty last week but they will be a different animal under the roof at the impressive Krestovsky Stadium.
The captain will be looking for heroes on the pitch – and he doesn’t need to look further than last week’s winner.
McGregor’s goal was a thing of beauty and his skipper reckons it was more like Messi than CalMac.
Brown said: “Callum has been fantastic and over the last 18 months he’s blossomed into a top-class player. He’s shown what he can do.
“If Messi had produced that finish against Zenit it would have been on telly non-stop for a week. It was a top-quality goal from a top-quality player. Look at the way he pulled the ball down and produced the finish.
“It was fantastic for us but also for the wee man to do it on what was his 150th appearance for the club. He and James Forrest are underestimated but we see it every day in training.
“Jamsie has probably been our player of the season so far and Callum is up there as well. He is very unselfish. He creates chances for others but not just that, he makes spaces with his running off the ball. He certainly makes it easier for me to get on the ball.”
Forrest and McGregor may go under
If Messi had produced that finish against Zenit it would have