Celtic v Man United
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UEFA Champions League - 2006/07
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Celtic v Man United
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan admits Manchester United have better players than he does - but he will not countenance any thoughts of defeat ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday.
The Hoops are second in Group F behind Sir Alex Ferguson's men, two points ahead of Benfica and Copenhagen, with games against the Red Devils at home and the Danish side away still to come.
The Old Trafford meeting earlier in the section ended in a 3-2 win for the home side who are favourites to complete the double against the Hoops at Celtic Park next week. However, the Hoops boss is in no mood to accept the result is a foregone conclusion.
He said: "I won't be put out if anybody says United have got better players than Celtic. "I accept that and I'm the Celtic manager. All of the managers in the Premiership would probably have to accept that fact.
"What I won't accept is that we can't beat them at Celtic Park on Tuesday. "There has to be a feeling that we can win the game. "You might scare yourself if you looked at too many videos of United in action.
"There has to be respect for what they've got at their disposal. But we have got to stand up to them." Celtic defender Gary Caldwell will not dwell on his recent Lisbon nightmare as he contemplates facing up to the Old Trafford side on Tuesday night.
The Scotland defender was at fault for two goals in the Hoops' 3-0 defeat by Benfica at the Stadium of Light which has left the qualification hopes of the Parkhead men in doubt. -
I think it will be a close game and United could very much draw in this game.
But i'll go with a 2-1 win for United.
And hope that Gravesen would not score a hat-trick against United.
Cheers.
C.K -
Celtic v Man Utd
John Hartson believes his former Celtic team-mates are entering the last chance saloon as they prepare to take on Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Home wins against FC Copenhagen and Benfica appeared to pave the way for what would be an notable success for Gordon Strachan's side in Group F, but a resounding defeat at the hands of Benfica in the last batch of fixtures leaves them looking for points from their final games against United and the Danes.
'If they are going to get through, I fancy them to cause and upset and get something out of the Manchester United game,' he begins. 'It didn't surprise me to see them lose against Benfica and I wouldn't be shocked to see them beaten in the last game against FC Copenhagen as well because our away form has been dreadful for many years now.
'So, to my mind, it all comes down to this United game and I wouldn't rule out the prospect of Celtic getting the result they need. European nights are very, very special at Parkhead and United won't enjoy going there, even if they have players who are used to massive ties like that.
'It will be an amazing occasion. Alex Ferguson going to Celtic with all his Rangers connections, a full-house and a United side that will respond to the challenge.
'As far as I remember, only a top-class Barcelona outfit beat us at Parkhead and there was no shame in that, so United are in for a tough evening. I still fancy my old team to go through and I wouldn't be surprised if they get the result they need in this final home game.' -
Sir Alex Ferguson admits he will have one eye on Manchester United's summit meeting with Chelsea when he picks his side to face Celtic in the UEFA Champions League.
United face an important week in their embryonic season, and Ferguson, though mindful of the threat to his team at Parkhead on Tuesday, admits he could gamble with his team selection.
The Scot concedes his chopping and changing of the team backfired in defeat to FC Copenhagen earlier in United's European campaign.
But that will not prevent Ferguson from shuffling his pack once more as he prepares his squad for the top of the table clash with Chelsea the following Sunday.
"I have obviously got to think about the Chelsea game when I pick my team to face Celtic and there will be one or two changes to the side," said Ferguson.
"Players like Gabriel Heinze will come into contention, but we want to come back from Glasgow with qualification guaranteed.
"We took a bit of a risk in Copenhagen and it went wrong for us.
"We want to get a result to make sure we qualify, but the Chelsea game will have a bearing on the team I pick.
"I think it is good that we have a hugely important game at Celtic ahead of playing Chelsea. It will be good preparation for the Chelsea game because there will be a real intensity about the occasion in Glasgow.
"Celtic have fantastic support and we have got to cope with that because it gives them a definite lift.
"But we've got players who have seen these types of occasions and I am sure they will cope with it this time as well." -
Celtic wary of Scholes
Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are often highlighted by opposition managers as United's main threat, but Celtic boss Gordon Strachan fears no player more than Paul Scholes.
The 32-year-old Reds midfielder has been in outstanding form this term after overcoming a serious eye problem that cast doubt on his career last season.
Fully fit and in fine form, he travels with the Reds to Parkhead where he scored two goals in a pre-season friendly on 26 July. Strachan is well aware of his ability to dismantle any defence in the Champions League.
"He can score goals, hit crossfield passes, play one-twos, beat people and win headers in the opponents' box," the Celtic boss explained.
The Celtic boss, who has said his side are still capable of causing an upset in Glasgow, believes Scholes has been one of the best all-round performers in the Champions League for more than a decade.
"If you take that whole package I don't think I've seen anybody as consistent - and he's been doing that for 10 or 11 years."
United need just a point to qualify for the knockout stages, but a victory would see the Reds guarantee top spot in Group F. -
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Celtic v Man Utd - Champions League Group F
Ch 23 - 3:45am - (Live)
Celtic defender Bobo Balde is poised to make his third appearance of the season in place of the injured Gary Caldwell.
Striker Kenny Miller is expected to return to first-team action after an ankle injury.
Manchester United captain Gary Neville is expected to play, though the right-back may need surgery to cure his troublesome calf problem.
Gabriel Heinze will play at left-back and Darren Fletcher will feature against the team he supported as a boy.
Celtic squad: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, O'Dea, McManus, Caldwell, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Gravesen, Jarosik, Maloney, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Zurawski, Marshall, Sno, Wilson, Miller.
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Man Utd squad: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Silvestre, Heinze, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Saha, Rooney, Smith.
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Celtic FC manager Gordon Strachan is looking forward to the most exciting game of his managerial career as he prepares to go head to head with former club Manchester United FC and manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the penultimate fixture in UEFA Champions League Group F.
Five-goal thriller
Strachan would happily settle for a repeat of the thrilling Matchday 1 encounter at Old Trafford as long as the Scottish champions record a victory that betters the 3-2 defeat inflicted on them by United. That would take Celtic into the last 16 provided FC København do not beat SL Benfica in Tuesday's other game. "It was a cracking game of football and hopefully we will get the same again, but obviously with a different result," said Strachan.
Miller time
On a more positive note, Kenny Miller has shaken off the ankle knock that kept him out at the weekend and looks set to renew his strike partnership with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. While his manager insists Celtic can still qualify even if they lose to United, Miller sounds a different tone, claiming an impressive home record of one defeat in eleven UEFA Champions League matches can inspire them to victory.
'Not immortal'
"We need to get something from the game, there's no doubt about that," said the 26-year-old Scottish international, who has three goals in the competition so far. "They're not immortal and we know we've got enough in the squad to win the game. A point would be a great result but obviously we'll be going for all three."
Summit meeting
United have a full squad to choose from following Saturday's 2-1 win at Sheffield United FC, although Sir Alex conceded he will make two changes with an eye on Sunday, when the Premiership leaders face the team directly below them, champions Chelsea FC. United need a point to ensure progress while three would clinch first place and, having slipped up in Copenhagen on Matchday 4, their boss is in no mood to hand out favours to one of his former pupils.
'Fantastic atmosphere'
"You want former players to do well but you can't afford to do that because you have to win the game for your own club," said the United manager, who spent two years of his playing career on the other side of Glasgow with Rangers FC. "We want to be top of our group but we know we're in for a tough game. The atmosphere will be fantastic and I'm really looking forward to it." -
ROONEY NOT THE ONLY THREAT - MILLER
Celtic striker Kenny Miller insists Wayne Rooney is only one of several Manchester United stars who can hurt the Hoops in the Champions League.
The England striker has not scored in the competition for two years but has returned to prime form.
After netting for his country against Holland in a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam last week, the 21-year-old grabbed a double for the Red Devils against Sheffield United on Saturday to help the Old Trafford side maintain their lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership.
United arrived in Glasgow on the back of seven straight Premiership wins and need a victory to ensure qualification before their last Group F match against Benfica.
But Miller believes Rooney is not Sir Alex Ferguson's only weapon.
The Scotland striker said: "It's not impossible to stop Rooney, a lot of teams have done it.
"He's a world class player and if he's not scoring goals he can be hurting you in other ways.
"But they've got so many options going forward you can't pinpoint one player to try to stop because, if you do, there's another angle.
"There's (Ryan) Giggs and (Cristiano) Ronaldo, and (Louis) Saha has been absolutely on fire this year.
"And, at the heart of it, you've got Paul Scholes pulling the strings.
"Scholes is world class. He was one of the best attacking midfield players in the world two or three years ago and he is still one of the best in the game.
"He can pass, score goals and he can even play in that deeper role.
"He's just a quality player and is one of the many players we have to keep a close eye on. You can't pinpoint one.
"United have been on fire since the start of the season.
"I saw them playing in a few games and some of the football they were playing was outstanding.
"I haven't seen a lot of them recently to be honest but their results and the fact they're sitting at the top of the league backs me up on that."
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, who admitted last week that United have better players than his side, tried to bolster confidence by comparing the Bank of Scotland Premier League favourably with the Barclays Premiership.
He said: "We've got to take heart from the players I've got and hope we can have a right good game.
"We can play, we've got good imagination and we've come from behind a couple of times in the league this season.
"We know the SPL is not the same as the English Premiership, but there's not that great a difference.
"We'd be competitive in the top half of the Premiership.
"I think they give themselves too many pats on the back for being the best league in the world.
"It's all right at times, but I've seen some dire games there as well." -
lets hope its a win or a comfortable draw
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UEFA Champions League - 2006/07
Celtic v Man United
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MAN UTD ALL THE WAY
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Celtic vs Man. United
Match starting, why nobody here one? -
will ronney or paul get a red card today
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most likely either one -
Half time
Celtic 0 : 0 Man Utd -
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84mins
Celtic 1 - 0 Man. United -
Sad lose for Man Utd. Nice win for Celtic.
Nakumura scored a free kick, thats somehow nice. Saha missed a chance to equalise, he stopped for a while as he thought he was off-side. Few mins later he missed the penalty. Man Utd need to win Benfica to confirm a place in the next round.
Full Time:
Celtic 1 : 0 Man Utd
"81 - Nakumura.
Next Man Utd match : EPL, Chelsea. -
this is the 3rd time man u have lost to supposedly weaker opponents.
frankly it is not a good sign.
saha missed a 90th min penalty!!!
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Originally posted by dragg:this is the 3rd time man u have lost to supposedly weaker opponents.
frankly it is not a good sign.
saha missed a 90th min penalty!!! 
Elsewhere in UCL, Ruud missed a penalty as well!
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They must not loss at Benfica on the last game, if not they are out.
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Final Score:
Celtic 1 - 0 Man. United -
disappointing.
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my goodness..
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Oh no... wat are their chances at Benfica?