Celtic have got a prayer in Europe, insists Gordon Strachan

WHEN Celtic were drawn with Barcelona in Champions League Group G, it’s a fair guess that the Parkhead club’s fans didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

On the one hand, they are guaranteed to enjoy the sheer glamour of a visit by the best football club in the world in recent years, and on the other hand there is the fundamental problem that so many managers and players have faced: just how do you beat Barca?

Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan knows what to do – pray. Strachan quipped: “Well, you visit the church or chapel, whatever your preference is – and hope!”

Visiting his roots to coach youngsters at Craigroyston Community High School in Edinburgh, Strachan looked ahead to Celtic’s Champions League campaign and the double encounter with Lionel Messi and co. And for him it’s Barcelona’s players who make the difference. “Everybody has tried to take them on, tried different systems,” said Strachan. “But, while everyone has their opinion on systems, trust me – it’s good players who make the difference. Good men win games. There were about seven different styles in the European Championships but who ended up winning? The best players. Systems can mask a lot of things.”

Strachan was in charge when Barcelona last visited Celtic Park in February 2008 and, in retrospect, that now appears to have been the first blossoming of the great side that the Catalonian giants produced. It sent the late Tommy Burns, Celtic’s then first-team coach, on a fool’s errand. “That was when everyone in Britain first realised that this was a special team,” said Strachan. “We do analysis with our Prozone [performance examination] system and, when Man United came to play us, they got 340-odd passes. I think AC Milan made 360 or so – we cut down Andrea Pirlo’s passing and contained him. But Barcelona came to Celtic Park and completed 700 passes. I looked at the analysis the next morning and thought: ‘There’s something wrong with our Prozone – go and check that Tam, fer Chrissake, there must be something wrong if it’s got 700 passes down there.’”

Burns, Strachan and everyone at Celtic soon knew the Prozone analysis was accurate and a harbinger of greatness. “It was hypnotic football,” said Strachan. “It was passing that we had never seen before, just keeping the ball moving. Like I say, it’s hypnotic. Then they go bang-bang and it’s a goal. We all had an idea of what Xavi and Iniesta did. We didn’t realise we were watching some of the best players in the world – some of the best players ever in the world – that night.”

Celtic played well but lost 2-3, Messi notching the 79th-minute winner after the then Scottish champions had taken the lead through Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s headed goal.

Now Celtic have the chance to show against Barca, Benfica and Spartak Moscow that they are worthy of a place at Europe’s top table. “They’ve given us all a lift by getting to the group stages,” said Strachan. “The last couple of years haven’t been that exciting for Scottish teams in Europe. Now, because of Celtic’s hard work and Neil Lennon’s hard work, everybody can enjoy watching a Scottish team taking on Barcelona and other top teams again.

“I never doubted that they would get back there. It’s a club that has always bounced back. I knew what Neil had built and, although he was nervous about it when I spoke to him, I always thought they would have more than enough in their locker to beat Helsingborgs in the second leg – especially when they got Victor Wanyama back. I think they can qualify for the knock-out stages. Lenny has built a good squad, he has options, very strong in midfield. But, like anything, you need to score a goal.”

Celtic’s manager who captained the team under Strachan has the latter’s full endorsement. “Lenny has learned a lot over the past couple of years, that’s for sure,” said Strachan. “You learn every day you stay in the game, so he’s obviously not at his peak, because he’ll have years to come. He will be better in two years’ time than he is now, that’s for sure. What he’s doing now is a very good job. But he’ll get even better.”

At the age of 55, Strachan is busy and he admitted yesterday he had turned down the chance of a post as manager of an unnamed national side. He said: “I’ve got a football foundation. I’m helping other people with coaching. If you ask me if I’m bored, I never get bored. I’ve got something to do every day. I had a hobby when I was at Celtic Park – I’m not telling you what it was – and I spent an hour a day on it. I’ve not got the time to do that now. Do I still think I can coach? There’s no doubt about that. I don’t know what kind of job would bring me back. You don’t know until somebody asks you.”

l Gordon Strachan was speaking in his role as Lloyds TSB Scotland Schools’ Football Ambassador. Lloyds TSB Scotland has extended their partnership with the Scottish Schools’ FA for the 2012/2013 season.