FOOTBALL

CELTS ADMIT REDS ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD

Sunday October 26,2008

Paul Hartley has played a fair bit of football at the top level for clubs and country.

But right now he’s still taking stock after playing against the best of the lot.

And, in his book, Manchester United are racing certainties to retain the Champions League trophy they won in Moscow last year.

Celtic were trounced 3-0 at Old Trafford and even allowing for the fact two of the United goals were questionable it was men against Bhoys.

“United aren’t European champions already for no reason and they are the best team we will probably ever face,” said Hartley. “They are so talented.

They are so talented

Paul Hartley

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“It was a very difficult game for us down there because they have top-class players all over the park and when they get the ball they seem to be able to punish you.”

It was a footballing lesson for Celtic although the Hoops’ case wasn’t helped by the two dodgy goals or the fact that there was no real evidence of a Plan B after Plan A went pear-shaped.

Celtic appeared unable to change and adapt to going a goal down, but it’s impossible to know how much that was to do with the quality of the opposition or their own frailties.

Hartley, 32, is in no doubt, though, that the credit must go to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

“They have pace, they have movement and they have real power too,” he went on. “They are probably the most powerful team in the tournament.

“When you come up against a side like that it’s very difficult.

“They are world-class and although we gave it our best shot on the night it just wasn’t good enough because they are a far superior team.

“They have a great chance of winning it again this season because I can’t see anyone coming up against a better outfit that Manchester United.

“We managed to create one or two chances but you have to take them because you know that for large periods of the game you will be on the back foot and they have such great movement that it’s difficult to pick up all their players because they drop off.

“I didn’t play against them two years ago but I watched those games and they look a far better team now than then.

“They are awesome to watch – as I did initially the other night from the bench – and they have such strength in depth.”

Despite all that he is still plotting to ensure life will be difficult for the Red Devils when they visit Parkhead 10 days from now.

And he is desperate to also ensure Celtic have a Euro future this season.

“We are looking to win the three group games we have left,” he insisted. “It will be very tough because that includes playing Manchester United again at home and then there’s Villareal who are a quality team but we have just got to get as many points as we can.

“Those two are favourites but as long as we have a chance of being second we’ll go for it.

“We know how good a home record we have so we do have a chance and hopefully when you come up against United you can get a goal or two and a bit of luck on the night.

“Then we have Aalborg away and that is winnable. We feel we should have won the home game against them and we’re going to have to get something away from home sooner rather than later.

“It would be great if we could keep it going to that last match against Villareal and the atmosphere at Celtic Park would be fantastic.”

Team-mate Glenn Loovens shares Hartley’s optimism – and his belief that there is no team better than United in the Champions League.

The man who nabbed Wayne Rooney’s jersey at the end of the midweek match admitted: “United were very hard to play against and are the best team in Europe.

“Look at what happened when they took Dimitar Berbatov off. They put on Carlos Tevez.

“We need a miracle now really but you never know.

“And however it goes I know we are good enough to stay in Europe. If it’s the UEFA Cup then so be it. I was in the Feyenoord squad that won it in 2002 and it’s a big trophy to win.”