Gary Caldwell: We're not as good or as bad as they say

Villarreal are the visitors to Celtic Park this week as the Champions League roadshow rolls into town for the final time this season and the Celtic number five wants to go out on a high for many reasons. Following two draws in the previous home matches Caldwell wants his team to go out with a victory to preserve the integrity of 'Fortress Parkhead' and he feels they owe the fans a win and performance. Another spur will be the thought that they can silence the critics and snipers, many of them former Celts themselves, who ripped them apart after the defeat to Aalborg in Denmark two weeks ago.

"We've had our critics since the Aalborg defeat but I don't think we were as good as we were perceived when we reached the last 16 the past couple of times." said Caldwell "Equally, I don't believe we're as bad as some have made out after our elimination this season. I suppose that's the pressure you have when you play for an O** F*** club. Previously, we got the breaks you need to make the knockout stage but just didn't have that kind of luck this season and the knives were well and truly put in after we lost in Denmark."

"We didn't play badly against Aalborg but the result was obviously not what we wanted." he continued "Now we're out of Europe I don't think the criticism will be as fierce regardless of what happens in midweek. Anyway, it would be a struggle to find any new people to put the knife in because so many had their say last time. If these guys were coming up with solutions or new ideas to help Celtic or Scottish football then great but they're just sitting in a cosy studio having a pop at us."

"I don't remember too many of them playing in big European nights for Celtic or in the last 16 of the Champions League." said the man now known as 'Heid' to the Celtic fans "They just seem to want to make a few quid by selling a story and having a go at us. But Gordon picks bits out from games and tries to correct them by explaining things to the players to improve us. That's what makes him such a good manager."

Caldwell knows that Villarreal will have their own reasons for pursuing the win in what promises to be a hugely enjoyable encounter between these two sides. "Villarreal will want a win to top the group but we also have a responsibility to the club and fans and need to get some points for the co-efficient." He said "It's another big European night and we only wish we were going for a result to stay in Europe. Unfortunately it's not to be but there will be no slacking. We need to win and avoiding defeat would be decent in terms of keeping our good European record at home going. And we want to use this to gain more experience and prepare for, hopefully, another chance in the Champions League next season."

"We've had many great highs in this competition over the past two years and it has been great to see our name in the last 16 alongside the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid." he continued "It was exciting stuff so to now be out of Europe completely is really disappointing. People might say we were hampered by injuries and that may be true. If we'd had Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Georgios Samaras and Scott McDonald available for every game who knows how we'd have done? But we also must remember there is a massive step up from the SPL to Champions League. Manchester United and Villarreal are used to that level in their domestic league. We need to be more defensive minded in Europe and that's something we're trying to do."

Having said that, Caldwell still enjoys the SPL and is hoping to extend his contract at Celtic Park in the near future. "The standard of the SPL is as good as I've known it. The national team have also been unlucky in some matches recently and if we'd had a few breaks we would have more points. Overall, the standard of the game in Scotland at domestic and international level isn't as bad as some would have you believe." he said, "To say it's on a downward spiral is not accurate. But it is up to the players to go out and show how talented our game is by playing good football. And we need to get results in Europe, starting on Wednesday night against Villarreal. A win would give us a lift and that's what we'll be trying to do."