FOOTBALL
VILLARREAL VOW GOALFEST
Senna expects plenty of action
By Brendan Abbott
SPANISH star Marcos Senna is promising Celtic fans a feast of football when Villarreal take on the Hoops at Parkhead in midweek.
It’s a Champions League tie with nothing at stake except pride for the Scottish champions, but the Spaniards are desperate to finish top of the group and thereby avoid other section winners in the last 16.
The fact that Villarreal need goals to make that happen does, according to Senna, make the tie a mouthwatering prospect.
“We have to go for goals against Celtic and we know that at home they like to play an attacking game, so it looks as if the supporters will be the big winners,” confirmed the 32-year-old naturalised Spaniard who was born in Brazil.
The Primera Liga side sit second behind Manchester United in Group E level on nine points, and with two draws between the teams goal difference will come into play.
United entertain UEFA Cup-bound Aalborg at Old Trafford in their final group match and hold a two-goal advantage over Villarreal.
Considering it’s all meaningless to Celtic, it still gives the tie a bit of an edge.
Senna added: “First we need to win the game and hope that Aalborg do something in Manchester, but it is likely that top position will be decided on goals.
“We want to try and win first place so we will avoid the group winners when the draw for the first knockout round is made.
“But we know that we face a good side in Celtic. They played very well in Spain and made several good chances and on another day we may not have won.
“Although many people are saying there is nothing left in this final tie that is not the way we are approaching Glasgow, and we will go there with a winning mentality.
“This has been the best year of my career and now Villarreal go into 2009 well placed in La Liga and still in the Champions League, so this is a big season.”
Senna has been at El Madrigal for six years and was granted Spanish citizenship two years ago, going on to win 21 caps and a place in the Euro 2008 Cup-winning side.
Hoops midfielder Scott Brown is a big admirer of Senna and is looking forward to facing him.
“He’s one of the top midfield men in the world and runs everything for them,” said Brown. “He’s 32 yet he still runs around like he’s 25 or 26.
“You don’t get a chance to watch and admire them when you’re playing, but you always gain from having played against players like that.”
