Celts Get Inter Them


Guidetti send the fans into Paradise


The build up to the match against Inter rivalled even that of an Old Firm match from bygone days. The memories of 67 were being intertwined with the last 32 match up between two giants of European football.

There was a lot of emphasis before the match about how far this Celtic side had come since the early disasters of Legia and Maribor. How good was this Celtic side?

The test Inter Milan represented was not only a step up in class but a test for Ronny Deila and his philosophy. His attacking philosophy. When the team sheet was announced every Celtic fan could see his intentions, to attack. With Armstrong and Mackay-Steven on the flanks. Johansen in behind Griffiths. This attacking 4 represented an ambitious Celtic.

After 15 minutes, it can be said many fans were thinking, not again...I thought that myself, memories of Juventus and Ac Milan came ushering back. Such build up, such hope, only to be extinguished with little more than a whimper.

For what would ensue can only be described as heroic. For a Celtic side 2-0 down in their biggest game of the season it would have been easy for heads to drop, to sit back and stem the tide. They didn't though, Deila encouraged his team to attack even more! This is the change in mentality Celtic have adopted in European football, no more do we look to defend for huge swathes of the game and try and nab a goal on the counter. No, we look to dominate games, impose ourselves, even against superior opposition. To be entertaining, to score goals. That is the Celtic way.

It certainly isn't good for the old ticker but by * its exhilarating. A refreshing approach to games. At the end of the day fans watch football for the joy of winning yes but also the joy of being entertained, to feel like they are a part of the game being played, that they themselves can influence it.


An atmosphere rivalled by no other

The atmosphere when Armstrong scored the first goal was electric, when the second went in Parkhead was actually jumping. The Inter players were visibly jolted, they couldn't handle the passion, the noise. England may have their multi-billion pound t.v. contracts, they may be able to attract some of the worlds best players but all that money cannot buy you passion, it cannot buy you supporters who can influence games. It cannot buy you a connection between the club and its fans.

If you cannot understand why the players and manager celebrated at the end the way they did, applauding the fans, then you have lost the meaning of football, fans represent the soul of a football club, as the great Jock Stein once said football without fans is nothing. The big man would have been proud of the way Celtic attacked and kept attacking, attacking the Celtic way. ​