AIK v Celtic – ‘There is always going to be negativity. The reality is we had one little bad game,’ Broony

SCOTT BROWN spoke to the media in Stockholm after The Celtic party arrived for this evening’s Europa League Play-off decider against AIK. Celtic hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg and are looking to make it through to the Group stages. The draw for that takes place tomorrow and while Celtic would be in pot two our old friends Cluj will be a pot four side, having dropped into the Europa League after losing 1-0 in Prague last night to go out to Slavia 2-0 on aggregate.

Slavia did not look like a side that would have been considerably better than Celtic, so for the second year in a row Celtic really did underperform in the Champions League third qualifying round. At least AEK Athens went on to reach the Group stages of the Champions League – where they got zero points.

Maybe it could be a case of Friends Re-united for Celtic and Cluj in tomorrow’s draw. Now that would be nice.

First though Scott Brown has to ensure that The Celtic team avoids another disaster. Last night we gave you a heads up on the likely team – see HERE – so there will be no repeat of the bizarre and ultimately costly team selection from The Celtic v Cluj match.

Scott Brown has his eyes set on winning in Stockholm and following that up with taking the three points at Ibrox on Sunday, this he believes will shut up the critics for now at least. The Celtic captain came in for some pretty intense criticism after his pretty dodgy showing against the Romanians which was frankly well short of his usual standards – and he knows it.

Broony applauds the support after last week’s 2-0 win over AIK

“There is always going to be negativity,” he said. “There are always going to be people who try and put you down. But we have a tight bunch of lads and we try not to read too much into any of it.

“We never dive in at that end and start fighting with each other. For us, it’s about doing our own jobs and making sure we win through.

“The reality is we had one little bad game. Everyone had jumped on the bandwagon about it but for us it’s football and it’s a long season. We need to make sure we keep going. If we can get through this game we could have a good season ahead of us.

“I feel okay and will just keep going until somebody eventually drops me off the edge of a cliff! Listen, I enjoy playing football and as long as I’m doing that the only person I’ll listen to is the manager.

“For me, as long as I’m picked to play I’ll continue to give my all. My form doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. Everybody else seems to think about me, but if we keep winning games and play well it doesn’t matter if I’m in the team or not. All the lads are in exactly the same position,” Broony said at The Celtic Media Conference at the Friends Arena in Stockholm ( watch below) and as reported by Herald.

“I’ve been hearing all this since I was 28. Listen, I have been rested a few times and it’s done me the world of good. It’s hard pushing through pre-season after 10 days’ holiday. But there are younger lads coming through who are pushing you. That’s what’s great about football, that competition. It keeps them going and it keeps me going.

That sinking feeling at the final whistle against Cluj

“I’ve heard my legs have gone? Everyone is going to say that. To be fair, I have got thick enough skin to deal with all that. For me, it is just about playing well, playing as much as I possibly can and enjoying my football.

“I play with a smile on my face more than anything now. I know my career is slowly coming to and end, but I still enjoy playing in front of 60,000 fans, I still enjoy winning and I always give 110 per cent.

“I have got two years left on my contract and I will be playing for those two years. I have still got a good 20 months left. You never know after that. We will see what happens, whether it is at Celtic or somewhere else. Whatever happens it kind of happens.

“For me, just now, it is about continuing to play with Celtic as long as I possibly can, getting us into Europe and winning as many games as we possibly can in the league.”

AIK v Celtic kicks off at 6pm Celtic Park time this evening.

Also on The Celtic Star…

UEFA hit the Rangers with second Racist and Sectarian Charge…see HERE.

Missing Players from Celtic’s flight to Stockholm, likely starting eleven…see HERE.

‘Either Celtic will be superior or it will be a magical night for us,’ AIK Captain…see HERE.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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