Scotland's fate is now in Celtic's hands

Published on Tuesday 9 December 2008 21:49

CELTIC may be playing solely for pride in the short term when they wrap up a disappointing Champions League campaign against Villarreal tonight, but Gordon Strachan recognises that securing a victory could be worth far more to his club two seasons from now.

By necessity, managers and players operate very much in the moment. By choice and mentality, so too do many supporters. But there is a bigger picture for Scottish football to address as potentially the worst season in its 53-year European history comes to an end.

If Celtic fail to beat their Spanish visitors, it will leave Scotland without a single win in a campaign for the first time. As ignominious as that would be, the effect on Scotland's Uefa co- efficient ranking would be more damaging.

Under the new format which will apply from next season, the domestic title winners from the top 12 ranked countries are guaranteed an automatic place in the lucrative group stage of the Champions League.

The entry list is based on the ranking list from two years previously, so this season's SPL winners are assured of group stage participation in 2009-10 on the basis of last year's tenth position.

In the current provisional rankings, however, Scotland have slipped to 12th place as a result of the dismal sequence of results recorded in the Champions League and Uefa Cup by Rangers, Celtic, Motherwell and Queen of the South.

To retain the automatic group stage entry for the 2010-11, Scotland must hold onto their present position but it is under serious threat from both Greece and Belgium who both have two clubs left in Europe this season.

Even a Celtic win tonight may not be enough to fend off Scotland's rivals, but Strachan accepts it is a prize worth fighting for on a night with no other meaning for his club.

"It is big, that's for sure," he said. "It can help us in the future, although we have to win the domestic championship to take advantage of it when it comes around.

"Going straight into the group stage is obviously a big thing for any club.

"I've experienced both sides of the qualifying process, losing (to Artmedia Bratislava) the first time around and then having one of the best nights I've had at Celtic when we beat Spartak Moscow two years ago. It can bring in a few quid as well, but it can also be costly."

Celtic also have the small matter of a 600,000 win bonus as an incentive to take all three points tonight, but Strachan was dismissive of any significance that has to resources which may be available to him in the forthcoming transfer window.

"If you think there's a really good player out there for half a million quid, then it's worth it," he said. "Or I might just get a Bosman and pay him half a year's wages.

"If that's the case, if my transfer kitty revolves around this, then I've gone from being a relaxed person who is going to experiment tomorrow night to a bag of nerves. But I don't think it's like that. We've already got our budget in place.

"I don't need to fire our guys up for this game. Once we get into that dressing room tomorrow night, it will be fine. They are in good nick and want to play. Once you set a game in front of these lads, they just have to get out there.

"They don't think about the co-efficient, half a million quid or what Villarreal might be thinking. They just play the game and that's what you like in a football player. You just play the challenge in front of you."

Strachan says Celtic have still taken considerable enjoyment from the Champions League this season despite a return of just two goals and two points from their five games so far which ensures they will finish bottom of Group E after two successive qualifications for the last 16 of the tournament. It does not, he insisted, signify a dramatic downturn in the standard of Scottish football.

"I know the general consensus is that there's a mass depression out there," he added, "but is there not a mass depression that goes with the west of Scotland anyway, full stop?

"It is hard to explain. Last year, we got to the last 16 of the Champions League, Rangers reached a European final and Aberdeen did well as well. We have just dropped away this year and if anyone can come away with the answers, then fine. We have always taken a very balanced view of it. Last year, Scotland reached their highest ever ranking, but now we are getting down on ourselves. Padraig Harrington won two golf majors this year. If he doesn't win two majors next year, is he going to top himself? I don't think so.

"We didn't get the breaks this season and at times haven't had enough ability. But I think we deserved more points than we have got. We want to try and finish on a high and maintain our good home record in the competition.

"It will be beneficial to try one or two wee things out in the game. It gives Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras another game, so there are a lot of things we can take from it."

Barry Robson will again miss out for Celtic with a thigh injury and the Scotland midfielder is also likely to miss Saturday's SPL fixture against Hearts.