CRISTIAN CONVERT
Oviedo: Pal Gamboa made me a Hoops fan but I’ll dump them out
Bryan Oviedo became a Celtic fan the minute his best pal Cristian Gamboa signed on at Parkhead.
But that won’t stop the Costa Rican from trying to dump the Hoops out of the Europa League.
The Copenhagen wide man is gunning for Neil Lennon’s side with the first leg of their last-32 clash at the Parken Stadium on Thursday night.
Oviedo has a soft spot for Celts after being told all about the club’s history and fan base by international team-mate Gamboa, who spent three years in Glasgow under Brendan Rodgers.
But after Copenhagen returned from their league’s winter break to a shock defeat at the hands of minnows Esbjerg on Friday, the 29-year-old insists they must get back on track.
And that means getting a positive result against the Scottish champions.
Oviedo, who had spells at Everton and Sunderland in the English Premier League, revealed why he’s a Celtic supporter – but will put his loyalty to one side with Euro progress at stake.
He said: “Celtic are a really good team. In fact, I used to support them because of a good friend of mine. When
Cristian used to play for Celtic I would always watch them and catch their games on television.
“They’re a really strong side and that’s why it’s going to be a huge test for Copenhagen.
“Cristian started well at Celtic, it was a good move for him at first.
“But for whatever reason he didn’t get as many games as he would have wanted and had to leave.
“So it was hard for him at the end.
“But he never had a bad word to say about the club.
“He described it as a fantastic with a great support – Cristian told me their fans are the best in Europe.
“I would try to watch them on TV as much as possible but unfortunately never got a chance to go to Celtic
Park and see him play – even though he was always inviting me.
“I was also a team-mate of Aiden McGeady at Everton and Sunderland.
“We played together for many years and he’s a great player and a big Celtic fan. Hopefully I’ll now get a chance to play there in the second leg.
“After that defeat by Esbjerg we need to pick ourselves up as soon as possible – because Thursday is such an important game.
“We have to be 100 per cent ready, physically and mentally, to compete with a team like Celtic.
“We’ll recover from the setback in the league and be ready for a massive tie.
“The Europa League is an important competition for us and we want to go as far as we can.”
Stale Solbakken’s side were woeful against Esbjerg.
It was their first – and only – competitive game after the Danish winter break before they face Celtic.
That will be a worry for the former Wolves boss ahead of tackling the Hoops, who are flying high at the top of the Premiership.
Oviedo might not have visited Parkhead yet but he’s well aware of what’s in store for the return leg.
He insists they must keep Odsonne Edouard & Co quiet at the Parken Stadium to have any chance of surviving at Celtic
Park and reaching the last 16.
He said: “It was disappointing to lose at Esbjerg because we were in control of the game for long spells. But they got a goal then defended really well to keep us out.
“It’s important that we get a lead in the first leg here in Denmark to take to Scotland.
“Obviously it will be a hard game for us but it’s so vital that we’re able to take an advantage to Glasgow for the second game.
“We have to be clever about it. We know Celtic are in good form and scoring lots of goals.
“So our first aim is to keep a clean sheet in Denmark and not concede.
“We all know what awaits us in Scotland for the second leg at their stadium.
“We’ll be playing in one of the most intimidating arenas so we’re aware of how difficult that will be for us.”
As well as a bit of
rustiness
after the winter break, Solbakken is facing a mounting injury list.
Former Ajax duo Viktor Fischer and Nicolai Boilesen – who both have experience of beating Celtic – are crocked and won’t play on Thursday night.
Danish striker Jonas Wind and Croatian midfield star Robert Mudrazija are also out, while experienced pair Dame N’Doye and Andreas Bjelland have just returned from spells on the sidelines.
But Oviedo is refusing to use that as an excuse, with a sell-out 36,000 crowd at the Parken on Thursday night expecting a victory over Lennon’s men.
He said: “I don’t think we can use the injuries as a reason for us not winning.
“Sure, we have a number of players unavailable but the team we put out were capable of beating Esbjerg and it just didn’t happen.
“We certainly believe we have the players in our squad who are good enough to compete against Celtic and go through.”
It was hard for Cristian in the end at Celtic ... but he never had a bad thing to say about the club – he described it as fantastic