Gustaf Lagerbielke sat with anticipation and excitement at Celtic Park yesterday evening as the UEFA Champions League group stages draw for this year took place. The Swede signed for Celtic this summer from Elfsborg and will have the opportunity to put his wits against the very best of what European football has to offer.
It was as reasonable a draw as one can expect at this level; with trips to Rotterdam, Rome and Madrid on the horizon for Brendan Rodgers and his team this season after a tense wait to see if we landed in yet another ‘Group of Death’. Gladly we didn’t, and without question Feyenoord, Ateltico Madrid and Lazio present a more level playing field than normally.
However, that’s what most of us thought last year and we got short shrift as we failed to capitalise from good positions in matches against both RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk. The games against the elite usually take care of themselves and Real showed why they’ve won the European Cup so many times since its inception. The most disappointing thing though was not making home advantage count and trying to reinstate Parkhead as the fortress it used to be.
Well that’s just what Gustaf Lagerbielke has insisted we have to do this time around and harness that wonderful atmosphere under the Paradise lights. Speaking after the UEFA Champions League group-stage, said: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s an exciting group and six difficult games, but it’s a fun challenge and experience and we aim to get through to the next stages. One of the reasons for signing was, of course, the Champions League. Every young kid dreams of playing in the Champions League and now I will get the chance, which is nice.
He added: “I think with the Champions League, all the groups are going to be good. Every team is good but the main experience is playing here at Paradise on European nights so the draw is just fun. Every group is tough and this group is really tough and I’m looking forward to the challenge. With the fans backing us and the atmosphere that can be created, we have a high chance of winning at home and hopefully, we can use that to our advantage and get some victories.”
Paul Gillespie
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