Paul Ince watched his own side lose 2-0 at home to Manchester United and yet a few weeks later the gobby ex-United player is slating Celtic's loss at Old Trafford, a loss exacerbated by two goals scored from offside positions, and describing the game as 'men against boys' and "embarrassing".
"I don't know why he was commenting on our game against Manchester United," said Wilson "Obviously I don't want to make myself look stupid by saying the wrong things, Paul Ince was a great player and is a manager now but I don't see the need for him to come out and say that. A lot of teams in the Premier League struggle at Old Trafford, that's just the way it is, but hopefully if we play the right game tomorrow night we can prove it's not men against boys."
The Celtic defender knows that there is a huge gulf between the two clubs and that United are operating on a different planet financially. The huge difference in finances available to the respective managers is obviously going to show on the field of play says Wilson "Sometimes people watching from the side don't know, they say we should do this and do that but it's only when you are on the pitch you realise how good these players are, they can make you look really stupid. The difference between the two clubs from two years ago is night and day. No disrespect to my team mates - I'm in the same boat. I cost £500,000 and some of their players cost £30million. What a gulf it is and of course there is a gap in ability. These guys are the best in the world and it's going to be a tough night for us but if we get our work-rate right and press them then you never know."
Wilson is looking forward to meeting up with Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo again "I seen Ronaldo walking off at Old Trafford and tried to keep up with him but he was still too fast for me even when he was walking and I got called back to applaud our fans so I didn't get his shirt. I'll try again tomorrow night - if I can get near him."he laughed.
His manager meanwhile was savouring the prospect of another Champions League night at Celtic Park and he was looking forward to once more enjoying that unique atmosphere generated by Celtic fans when the continents finest teams come visiting. "The European nights are fantastic. Whatever happens in our careers, you will not get any better. In the three years I've been here, there have been some special, special nights and we will try our best to create another one."
Despite the reverse at Old Trafford the Celtic boss does not fear standing toe to toe with United again "The two offside goals at Old Trafford didn't help, but we did not make too much fuss about it. We said the better team won but hopefully if we put as much effort in again, we will get the breaks that we are probably due." he said ""First of all we have to perform, then we have to have a wee bit of luck, maybe have the decisions going for us and the players all playing to their maximum," said Strachan. "If we get all that, the result will take care of itself."
"We can do it." continued Strachan "We can also get beat, everyone knows that. We have to be careful with our passing, get close to their players and when we have the ball give them a problem. If we are to score it will take a special moment from one of our players, so we have to create a platform for them to do that. We know we are not as good technically as them, or as fast with our passing but the one thing you cannot question at this club is the character and determination of the players."
Celtic were slated by some for a lack of aggression at Old Trafford but the manager doesn't think aggression is relevant in today's game "What does more aggression mean?" he said. "You can't kick lumps out of each other and quite rightly so. It's not like 40 years ago when Celtic played Leeds United, when you could kick 10 bells out of each other. "You can't get away with that these days, fortunately they have brought some civilised rules in since then. We have to be careful with our passing, we have to get close to their players and when we get the ball we have to give them a problem. There has to be special moments from some of our players to score, unless we get a freak goal."
Teams
Celtic (from): Boruc, Hinkel, Naylor, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Maloney, McGeady, Scott Brown, Hartley, Robson, Donati, McDonald, McCourt, Sheridan, Mark Brown, Nakamura, O'Dea, Caddis.
Man Utd (from): Kuszczak, Foster, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Gibson, Possebon, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Park, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez.