The newest book describing the history of the club is "The Celtic Story: the Will to Win", an updated edition of the 1988 release, and it was advertised on the big screens at Celtic Park yesterday. Meanwhile the players on the pitch showed that the will to win is every bit as relevant to today's Celtic as it was to the teams of yesteryear.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was interviewed at Holland's Euro 2008 training camp in the summer and said "Celtic is more than a club and sometimes it's about more than football, you have to give a bit extra, play on another level. You can't hide and the fans expect you to do something." He let us know by his words that he understood the ethos of the club he has immersed himself in. And yesterday, not for the first time, he was the perfect embodiement of that ethos as he battled into the dying seconds to secure the points with yet another last gasp winner for the bhoys.
Aberdeen were the unfortunate victims of the big Dutchman's never-say-die attitude for the second time this year following his 90th minute equaliser in the Scottish Cup tie at Pittodrie back in March. That goal earned the Celts an ultimately unsuccesful replay at Celtic Park but in this particular competition it's performances and goals like this which seperate the champions from the also-rans.
Jan had scored early in the game before ex-Celt Charlie Mulgrew struck twice to put the Don's in front with around 25 minutes left on the clock. Manager Strachan reverted to plan B as he threw Scott McDonald and Aiden McGeady into the fray and both players responded magnificently. McDonald headed the equaliser which, like Vennegoor of Hesselink's winner, was created from McGeady's grit, determination and artistry.
"When Aiden McGeady came on he was fantastic, and he won a tackle to drive on and cross for our second goal. That was a turning point in the match." said Gordon Strachan "The two subs gave us a great spur when they came on. They lifted the game at the right time and we're lucky to be able to brings guys like that on."
Giorgios Samaras continued his run of great form despite not getting on the scoresheet himself but the manager wasn't so impressed with the defensive showing "We didn't defend well," he said, "but I'll speak to the players about it before talking to the media. We'll analyse it as a group. It wouldn't be fair for them to go home and then hear me saying later what went wrong. It's best to get a clear head, watch the game again, analyse it, talk about it. Doing it after a game is not right because players are excited, they're hyper, sometimes they're angry. But, no, we didn't defend all that great."
Strachan, as always, had words of praise and encouragement for his opposite number in the away team's dugout "I think everybody enjoyed that apart from the coaching staff on both sides but I really do feel sorry for Jimmy Calderwood as they played terrific today. It's a bit embarrassing when you see a team that's put so much work into a match getting beaten. I've no idea where Aberdeen would find someone else who can produce a team like that with no money."