Q: How gutting would it be if there were no fans in that second leg for you guys?
Alistair Johnston: “We just got word that that’s kind of being looked at by the UEFA. So it would be definitely disappointing for our fans. And I think it’d also be disappointing just for the Champions League in general, because I think our fans are known around Europe as being so loud. You can even hear it just talking to some of the Villa players after like, well, you know, when equalised just seeing the scenes.
“Something that all fans want. You want to have that atmosphere, that give and take within the stadium. You know, it makes the football match really feel like a football match. And I think it’d be definitely a disappointment if they’re not able to come. But again, that’s kind of out of our hands. Hopefully that, you know, there’s something that can be decided on that works out where we can have our fans there, because I think it just adds to the whole experience, not only for our fans, but also for the Munich fans. So yeah, we’ll see. But hopefully that gets sorted pretty quickly.”
Q: When the club were charged the first time, obviously the fans heeded the warning, there was no pyrotechnics and whatnot. Is it a frustration that it’s just taken one fan to throw one object onto the field and it could, you know, be a detriment to thousands going over to Munich?
Alistair Johnston:“Yeah, I get that frustration. Yeah, one person’s actions can potentially affect, you know, the whole supporters group. But again, it’s one of those ones I actually didn’t even realize that we were on probation. It’s one of those kind of things that we probably heard in passing, but didn’t really take too much to it. I get it. UEFA’s got to police it. They need to be safe for all the fans going. But again, it’s one of those ones we just really want our fans there. It makes such a difference, not only for us on the pitch, but just for the whole atmosphere. And I think that, you know, the game benefits from that. And I think that we saw that at Villa Park.
“I think if you asked anyone that was at the match, I think it’d be one of their favourite matches, not only just for, you know, obviously Villa got the result, but I think just for what the Celtic fans brought to the match, the give and take. And you could look up in the crowd and you could tell how engaged everyone was. I think that’s something that the sport’s all about. So yeah, hopefully, you know, that one pyro doesn’t ruin it for everyone. But again, that’s out of our hands now, unfortunately.”
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