Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Now that the dross of Europe have all been eliminated from the Continents premier Club competition we can turn our attention to the next round of the Competition. The 7 teams that we could potentially meet in the last 16 have now been decided and we can now look forward to this weeks draw with trepidation and hope in our hearts.
There are many potential ties that would have a camel salivating! Where will we be heading for the away leg come February? Who do you fancy in the next round?
If you look at the Clubs that we could meet there is many an old friend that we could meet up with again; a city or two that we would love to re-acquaint ourselves with and also an enemy or two in our sights.
Many would like to see how the finalists of the 1967-Cup Final would line up against each other in the modern day and I think that we would have a fighting chance against the Italians. They did progress from a potentially difficult group full of battlers but they are not prolific.
There is many a Celtic fan (me included) that would love a trip to the Theatre of football that is the Santiago Bernabeu. The Madridista have a formidable squad of players but have failed to live up to the expectations of their fervent support in recent times.
There is also the prospect of a return to Oporto to meet the old enemy that is Porto. This is a re-match that I for one would like to avoid, until the next round at least!
The most attractive to the majority of Celtic fans however would be a return to the City that took us into its heart forever more. When the Celtic support became the largest single movement of people from the UK since the D-Day landings the pilgrimage to the Andulucian Capital was a trip that every person who was there will never forget. The exit of their talismanic Manager Juan Ramos could lead to a drop in form of the Spanish Side.
And so it is with a sense of pride and expectation that we look forward to the next stage of the competition, and it is with our tongues firmly located within our cheeks that we remember the ridicule that we faced in light of our away record in the competition from our City Rivals. One must remember that it is he who laughs last who laughs the loudest and that pride always precludes a fall!
Like the wounded animal backed into a corner, those most loyal subjects chose fight over flight (both on and off the field). From songs of hatred on the terracing to tackles of venom on the pitch it is a shame that Rangers final appearance at the big boys table will be the big boys disciplinary table.
I feel the best way to sum up today article is via the medium of song. For today’s song moment I opt for "Just" by Radiohead.
"You do it to yourself, you do…."
Yours in Celtic, and the last 16 of the Champions League
Clydebuilt