18-10-2006, 10:35 AM
GORDON STRACHAN was understandably delighted after CelticÂ’s impressive 3-0 victory over Benfica. Second-half goals from Stephen Pearson and two from Kenny Miller have boosted the Hoops chances of progressing to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club's history.
The Celtic manager saw his side dismantle a team that reached the quarter-finals of last seasonÂ’s competition. And they did so without several players who may well have been in the starting XI if they'd been fit.
Thomas Gravesen, AIden McGeady, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Mark Wilson – all of whom started for the Hoops in their opening UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford – were all missing from the side that faced Benfica.
But Celtic showed their strength-in-depth and character as they produced the result of Matchday Three of the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking after the match, Gordon Strachan said: “The players were excellent in the first 20 minutes of the match and in the second-half they really showed what they could do.
“We asked them to show their true personalities and they did that, all right. More than anything, they can be very proud of themselves because that’s what I feel for them. I’m very proud for what they achieved out there.
“Tests like these give players a chance to show their true personalities. I mean, when we played so well early in the match and didn’t score, Benfica came back a bit and probably spooked the crowd a little. They might have spooked us, too.
“But our players came back and asserted themselves and won so well. They can take great pride and pleasure from that, at least until tomorrow morning. Then they’ll know that there’s another match coming up against Motherwell on Saturday and one after that.
“And theyÂ’ll go back to work and prepare for whatÂ’s ahead. Yes, weÂ’re in a good position in the group and that was a big step tonight, thereÂ’s no denying that. We would have taken this a month ago, after we had lost the opening match at Manchester United. But thereÂ’s still a big job to be done.Ââ€
The Celtic manager saw his side dismantle a team that reached the quarter-finals of last seasonÂ’s competition. And they did so without several players who may well have been in the starting XI if they'd been fit.
Thomas Gravesen, AIden McGeady, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Mark Wilson – all of whom started for the Hoops in their opening UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford – were all missing from the side that faced Benfica.
But Celtic showed their strength-in-depth and character as they produced the result of Matchday Three of the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking after the match, Gordon Strachan said: “The players were excellent in the first 20 minutes of the match and in the second-half they really showed what they could do.
“We asked them to show their true personalities and they did that, all right. More than anything, they can be very proud of themselves because that’s what I feel for them. I’m very proud for what they achieved out there.
“Tests like these give players a chance to show their true personalities. I mean, when we played so well early in the match and didn’t score, Benfica came back a bit and probably spooked the crowd a little. They might have spooked us, too.
“But our players came back and asserted themselves and won so well. They can take great pride and pleasure from that, at least until tomorrow morning. Then they’ll know that there’s another match coming up against Motherwell on Saturday and one after that.
“And theyÂ’ll go back to work and prepare for whatÂ’s ahead. Yes, weÂ’re in a good position in the group and that was a big step tonight, thereÂ’s no denying that. We would have taken this a month ago, after we had lost the opening match at Manchester United. But thereÂ’s still a big job to be done.Ââ€