Celtic fans in Seville invasion
Juan Ignacio Zoido said it was very difficult to calculate the exact number of fans who would make the trip to the Southern Spanish city, but the British Embassy had provided them with a rough estimate to help with security arrangements.
All 52,000 tickets for the final at the city's Estadio Olimpico have been sold.
Zoido said the Spanish Government would be providing an extra 1,000 national policemen and 300 members of the Civil Guard to cope with the influx of Celtic fans.
He added that supporters from as far a field as Australia and the United States were expected to make the trip to witness the Glasgow club play their first European final in 33 years, but that he was not anticipating any serious security problems.
"We want to turn the UEFA Cup final into a party," he said.
"It will give us the chance to show we live in one of the best cities in the world."
Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond believes the club's UEFA Cup final appearance could resurrect talk of a move to the Premiership. The Old Firm have been constantly linked with a 'transfer' from the Bank of Scotland Premier League, and even held unofficial talks with the Nationwide League earlier this season.
Celtic have beaten Blackburn and Liverpool on the way to the final against Porto in Seville and Desmond believes the Old Firm are destined to move away from the SPL.
He said: "I understand the concerns of other Scottish Premier clubs. I think they can well be resolved.
"I understand the concerns of some of the English Premiership clubs. They can be resolved. Where there's a will, there's a way.
"We are not going to bombard English Premiership clubs and try to knock the door and get in.
"We would like to be invited. If we are not invited, then I don't think we will be playing there.
"But, if commonsense prevails, I think there will be an opportunity in the next couple of years that Celtic and Rangers could play in the Premiership."
The ideas of a European Super League have also been floated and Desmond believes "anything is possible."
He insisted: "There is no reason why the bigger clubs in Europe cannot play against each other.
"We don't know, but it will evolve because people get bored with the same product and it has to be changed. And people get bored with the same outcomes and the same results."
But Desmond admits he now has some insight into the emotions of Celtic manager Martin O'Neill as he heads into the final against Porto.
"I know what it is like for a football manager because I'm waking up at night thinking about the match," said Desmond.
"I prefer Celtic being underdogs because we have had a good season in that position against Liverpool, Blackburn and Celta Vigo. So I hope that form continues.
"We will enjoy this final and let next year and the years after take care of itself."
Even O'Neill has admitted to feeling overwhelmed by nervous excitement as his side prepare for the club's biggest European night in more than three decades.
"There is no point in any of the players looking to me to stop them worrying," he joked to reporters here. "Sorry, I'll be in the toilet."
Porto, who romped to their 19th Portuguese title with four games to spare, will kick off at the Estadio Olimpico tomorrow night as slight favourites.
Celtic were on the receiving end of a footballing lesson when the two sides met in the Champions League last season.
Having beaten the Portuguese outfit 1-0 in Glasgow, a 3-0 defeat in Porto ensured Celtic went out of the competition.
"They beat us well in that match and they have improved since then under their new coach," O'Neill admitted.
"But we have more European experience ourselves now and we have one or two options we did not have last time we played them, so you never know."
O'Neill's preparations for the match have not been helped by striker John Hartson being ruled out with a slipped disc which will require surgery in the close season.
The blow means Chris Sutton, who has been deployed as an attacking midfielder for most of the season, will almost certainly partner 42-goal striker Henrik Larsson in attack.
"It is a massive blow to be without John," O'Neill said. "It is a blow for both of us a blow for the club because he has been playing brilliantly for us and a blow to him because these occasions do not come around all that often.
"It has made me change my thinking because he has been such an important part of the team."
Despite his dismay, Hartson has travelled to Seville to be part of what he hopes will be the biggest Celtic celebrations since that memorable night 36 years ago when Jock Stein's Lisbon Lions defied the cynical defensive ploys of Inter Milan to become the first British side to lift the European Cup.
"The formation we have had all season with Henrik Larsson and me up front and Chris Sutton in the hole has worked very well," Hartson said.
FC Porto coach Jose Mourinho has included key midfielder Francisco Costinha in a 23-man squad.
Mourinho said Costinha trained in a closed-door practice session at Antas stadium in Porto yesterday before the squad flew out to Seville.
Costinha has virtually recovered after pulling a thigh muscle in a league match against Pacos Ferreira a week ago.
Some 20,000 FC Porto fans are expected to attend the match, with 300 busloads of fans expected to arrive on match day alone.
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