Bhoys Exit In Europe

With Heads Still Held High, Celtic Go Down In Barca And Suffer Cup Hangover At Pittodrie

By Tony Quinn

Celtic's Champions League hopes were ended by Barcelona at the Nou Camp last week. The Spanish side got off to a perfect start when Xavi Hernandez flicked the ball over Artur Boruc and into the net after only two minutes. The Bhoys struggled to contain Barca for long spells, but improved as the second half progressed. Boruc saved from Ronaldinho and Deco while Celtic's best effort by Shunsuke Nakamura was saved by Victor Valdes.

On Sunday, Gordon Strachan made four changes to the side that lost to Barcelona for this Scottish Cup quarter-final tie at Pittodrie. Andreas Hinkel returned from suspension to replace right-back Mark Wilson and Darren O'Dea came in for left-back Lee Naylor. Evander Sno replaced the suspended Scott Brown in midfield and top scorer Scott McDonald came back into the side at the expense of Massimo Donati, who started on the bench. The Dons took the lead when Jeffery de Visscher fired the ball under keeper Artur Boruc with 12 minutes remaining. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink netted in the last minute to keep Celtic in the Cup. Scott McDonald, Paul Hartley and Vennegoor of Hesselink also hit the woodwork.

After the game Gordon Strachan was relieved. "It was a terrific game - I was really pleased by my player's fitness and belief today," he said. "Artur Boruc was a big personality for us, as was Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and he luckily rescued us at the end. But what a cup tie - we had great goalkeeping, shots, tackles, drama, and the players keep on proving me wrong."

At a special ceremony in the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona last week, Celtic Chairman John Reid made a donation of £10,000 on behalf of Celtic Charity Fund to UNICEF, the world's leading children's charity. The Celtic Chairman made the presentation to Victor Soler-Sala, President of UNICEF in Catalunya, with FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta also in attendance. The donation was made from the Celtic Charity Fund, from contributions made by Celtic supporters.

The SFA has been given the green light to take retrospective action against players accused of simulation. The International FA Board meeting in Gleneagles last Saturday has urged the SFA to present detailed plans about tackling diving to Fifa. The plans could then be introduced on a trial basis next season. SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said: "We'll try to get a system approved for next season - diving harms the game and it's not in the fair play principles."

Georgios Samaras is refusing to rule out turning his loan move from Man City to Celtic into a permanent arrangement. He said: "I'm really pleased with myself that I made the correct decision to come to this club." Samaras is eager to have his future sorted before the start of the European Championship. "I think it is too soon to speak about staying after the summer," he said. "It is not just up to me. It is up to Celtic and Manchester City to discuss everything. The only thing I can say is that I want everything sorted before the European Championships. If I have the possibility to stay then I will. I think there is an agreement in place between the clubs for a transfer fee which I think is £3million. But it's not just up to me."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has spoken out against the possibility of the Celtic and Rangers moving to the EPL. The idea has often been mooted but world football's governing body would not endorse it. "It would be detrimental to Scotland if the two best teams leave to try and play in England," he told BBC Sport. "It is also good for the political aspects that the British Associations keep their different leagues."