Scottish Premier League News August 2012: Celtic Hope To Progress in Champions League
Lisa Dillon
Celtic
Celtic have moved within touching distance of the lucrative group stages of the UEFA Champions League, after a 4-1 aggregate win over Finnish club HJK Helsinki.
The first legs take place on Aug 21/22 with the returns a week later.
Hoops legend Henrik Larsson, who played with both teams, has admitted that he has split loyalties ahead of the Champions League play-offs between Celtic and Helsingborg.
The former Sweden striker became a Hoops hero for his exploits during his time at Parkhead but started and ended his playing career with Helsingborgs, whom he started out with.
And the player revealed that the media interest following the draw reminded Larsson of when he played for Barcelona against the Glasgow side in 2004.
"It reminds me of when I was at Barcelona and we were drawn in the Champions League against Celtic," he said.
"My phone never stopped and yesterday was no different. I came out of training and had about 15 missed calls. I thought to myself that Celtic must have got Helsingborg in the qualifier.
"But this is a really tough one for me and I am caught in the middle between Celtic and Helsingborg.
"Helsingborg gave me a start in European football and Celtic made me the player I was, so it is not easy for me to pick one over the other.
"It won't be easy for Celtic to go and pick up a win, but if I was pushed I would say that having the home match second may just give a slight advantage to them.
"A lot of people have mentioned Helsingborg's start to the season but they are the champions and finished second the previous season.
"If you look at how they play they are very good defensively and don't concede many goals."
A little more spice was added to the tie when Alejandro Bedoya signed for Helsingborg after leaving Rangers.
The United States midfielder, 25, decided against staying with the Ibrox club who are now in Irn-Bru Division Three after having to start life over as a newco.
Bedoya, who failed to make an impression during his time with Rangers, left Glasgow last week after refusing to have his contract switched over to the Third Division club.
But the 25-year-old is confident he can establish himself with the Swedish champions, and aims to put one over the Hoops and provide some cheer for his ex-team-mates.
"I will be extra ready for the match, I can promise," Bedoya said. "I have promised my old friends at Rangers to do one last thing for them - knock Celtic out of the Champions League.
"Physically I am in good shape. I am in the middle of my pre-season and I have only played a few friendlies, so I am a little bit behind the others."
Bedoya's closest experience of a Glasgow derby was to sit on the bench against Celtic last campaign but he remembers the occasion well.
"I can tell the Helsingborg players about the atmosphere coming from the stands," Bedoya added. "It's very special."
Celtic manager, Lennon, however is delighted that his team are in this position after their success in their first qualifier.
Asked if it was important for him to get through against the Finnish club, the Parkhead boss said: "Yes I do, just for my own sanity.
"I have been agonising over this tie for a long, long time, probably since we picked up the (league) trophy in May. I have been in a wee bubble for the last six or seven weeks so it s big relief for myself and a big release of pressure.
"It was a really tough tie.
"The first goal was huge, if it had gone to HJK Helsinki it would have given them a massive lift but overall, on the balance of the game, we were the far superior team.
"It was a really tough tie. Psychologically for me, it is big because I haven't got through the last couple of years but we have built a good team here and they delivered."
Rangers
Rangers left-back Lee Wallace has expressed disappointment at losing his Scotland place but has refused to criticise manager Craig Levein.
The player has been overlooked has been overlooked for international football following his decision to stay at Ibrox despite the club now playing in the Irn-Bru Third Division.
While clearly irked at the decision, the player cannot disagree with Levein's assertion that the drop in standard of opposition will make it more difficult to adapt to international football.
"I do buy into the fact that when you're playing in the Third Division, you're going to be a bit off the level and the standard required. I agree with that," he shrugged.
Levein, though, left himself open for criticism by calling up Ian Black, whom Rangers have signed for a reported £7k a week. Black has joined Kevin Kyle, Fran Sandaza, Brazilian defender Emilson Cribari and Dean Shiels.
Black was rewarded with an international call-up despite Wallace's omission, something that the defender was reluctant to reveal too much of his thoughts about.
The 25-year-old added: "What has happened over the last couple of days with Ian going in is the manager's decision and I'll respect that.
"There's disappointment but I wish Blackie all the best for his first cap and his first call into the Scotland squad.
"I'm a bit disappointed not to have been called in but that's just life. I'll take it on the chin and if I'm not involved, I'm not involved.
"I'm a Rangers player so I'm coming in here and getting on with my job as normal. That's the way I look at it.
"I was happy enough to be involved in the trip at the end of last season, albeit I was called in as a reserve which isn't always great.
"If you're called upon, you get on with your job and that's what I did. I'm disappointed but that's as far as it goes and I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
"I've got respect for the manager and I'm never going to come out and say anything against him. I don't know how he is thinking."
Asked about his future international prospects, Wallace said: "I don't know about that really. After what has happened in the last couple of days, I do question that.
"But just now, for me, it's all about Rangers. That's how I'm approaching things and we've got a massive season ahead on this adventure of ours.
"I'll enjoy coming in here to train as I do and I want to help the club try to move forward."
Meanwhile, Charles Green set himself on course for another major collision with Scottish football's authorities by citing 'bigotry' as a driving force in the decision to demote Rangers to the Third Division.
And the Ibrox chief executive's personal relations with SFA counterpart Stewart Regan are sure to hit a new low after he appeared to be applauding as Rangers supporters chanted 'if you hate Stewart Regan, clap your hands' at a recent Ramsdens Cup tie against Brechin City at Glebe Park.
Picking up on manager Ally McCoist's talk of a 'hostile agenda' against Rangers, Green said: "Some of it has been driven by bigotry, some of it has been driven by jealousy and some of it has been driven by all the wrong motives.
"Some of the business decisions that have been made have been nonsensical from a business point of view.
"We are in a position whereby Rangers were thrown out of the league and these clubs are still appealing to fans to buy season tickets.
"I think justice has been done. The club were deducted 10 points, fined £190,000, put out of the SPL, then put down to the Third Division.
"It had to pay all the Scottish club debts, which wouldn't normally happen for a newco to be obliged to pay oldco's debts.
"We're also now paying European debts and there is still a potential cloud hanging over the club from the SPL over EBT.
"I had meetings last week with UEFA officials, who say this is unprecedented in Europe."
Murray, meanwhile, opened up the possibility that Rangers might not take even three seasons to regain their position in the top flight, saying: "We will be back at the highest level - and I don't think it will be as long as many cynics say."
Scotland
Scotland manager Craig Levein has not ruled out the prospect of Scotland captain Darren Fletcher leading his team into their opening World Cup 2014 qualifier against Serbia in just over three weeks' time.
Manchester United midfielder Fletcher has not played competitive football since last November as he battles to overcome ulcerative colitis, a debilitating and chronic bowel condition.
The 28-year-old has shown significant improvement in recent weeks and appeared for a United side against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the Neil Simpson benefit match.
Scotland begin their World Cup Group A qualifying campaign with a Hampden double-header against Serbia and Macedonia on 8 and 11 September, and Levein says he will take instruction from Manchester United's medical staff before deciding whether Fletcher can be selected.
"You might call me silly, but I am still hopeful Darren will be involved," said Levein. "He was down to play for 45 minutes at Aberdeen and no doubt he will be looking to play more. It is a tall order for him to make the World Cup games but I have not given up on it.
"We will have to wait and see how he does. I would love to have him for all the games but it will be dictated more by Manchester United. They see a lot more of him than I do. They are with him every day.
"Their medical team and doctors are constantly monitoring the situation. If they get to the point that they believe he is capable of playing a first team game for Manchester United, then I will play him.
"If they give him the OK and he is fine and he hasn't played for Manchester United, then I will consider him, but playing for Manchester United would be a clear indication for me he is ready to go.
"He is now on some new medication and it seems to be doing the trick. It is early days yet and I don't want to go too deeply into what has happened with his treatment.
"But he has trained in all the sessions with us this week and although he looks a bit off the pace, as you can imagine, it is just good to see him on the training ground."