TalkCeltic - The Ultimate Celtic FC Forum

CELTIC'S defeat in Copenhagen last night brought a virtual guarantee that Gordon Strachan's team will face a tough assignment in the knockout phase of the Champions League, with their last-16 tie due at the end of February and beginning of March.

The Scottish champions' 3-1 defeat by FC Copenhagen in the final match of Group F left them in second place behind Manchester United, who came from behind to beat Benfica 3-1 at Old Trafford.

As runners-up, Celtic will next face one of the other seven section winners, a list that comprises Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, AC Milan, Olympique Lyonnais, Valencia and Bayern Munich.

The prospect may have the Celtic fans salivating, but Strachan was too distraught over the latest embarrassment away from home - their 12th in the tournament without a victory - to raise much enthusiasm.

The manager's disappointment was so deeply felt that he took the unusual step of admitting that his team are beset by problems in the...

Balde determined to finish Champions League group on a high

Celtic defender Bobo Balde says the Hoops are determined to retain their place at the top of UEFA Champions League Group F when they face FC Copenhagen this week.

Gordon Strachan’s side have already guaranteed themselves a place in the last 16 of the competition but will definitely win the group if they win in Denmark on Wednesday night.

Celtic have never won away from home in the group stages of the competition but Balde can change that statistic.

The 31-year-old said: "I look forward to Copenhagen. If we win the group it will be more than we've ever done before, but as the manager says, the first thing we try to do every year is win the league.

"Then we try and get to the second stage of the Champions League and this time we've done it.

"Now we will go over there and try to win the group. That won't be easy but we're confident that it's possible.

"If we do it will be a great...

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists his strikers are still playing their part in the Hoops' campaign despite their lack of goals.

The Parkhead men are odds-on to retain their Bank of Scotland Premier League title and have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time, but are not getting a steady stream of goals from their hit-men.

Kenny Miller has not scored in his last seven games and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who missed Saturday's victory with a hamstring injury, has scored only twice in his last eight matches.

Jiri Jarosik, who has also been played up front at various times despite being a midfielder, has chipped in with three goals.

And Magic Zurawski had scored only once in his last eight matches until he grabbed the only goal of the game against the Dons after coming on as a second-half substitute for Thomas Gravesen.

Strachan said: "At this time last season the strikers had scored 50 per cent of our goals, that is down to 30 per...

Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen



Substitute Maciej Zurawski breached a stubborn Aberdeen defence to secure a hard-fought victory for Celtic.


The visitors thwarted Celtic with some superb saves from Jamie Langfield and Gary Dempsey, industrious in midfield.

Kenny Miller spurned a glorious chance in 43 minutes after Lee Naylor's shot was saved.

Celtic broke the deadlock in 71 minutes - to the relief of anxious home fans - when Zurawski swept home Naylor's cross from six yards.

Thomas Gravesen returned from a thigh injury to take his place in the Celtic midfield for the visit of Aberdeen.

The Dane took over from Jiri Jarosik, who moved up to partner Kenny Miller in attack, with Maciej Zurawski dropping to the bench.

Shaun Maloney's ankle injury sustained against Hibernian last Sunday meant he missed out, the Hoops' midfielder replaced by...

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Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has hit out at agent Willie McKay for going public with Stephen Pearson's predicament at the Scottish champions.

Although I'd like to see Pearson go, GS has highlighted the problem agents pose to clubs ad players. I hope this * gets hit hard!!