Strachan: My Bhoys can end away-day hoodoo
The Scottish champions have never won away from Glasgow since the old European Cup was re-branded, but have another chance to make amends tonight against Shakhtar Donetsk at the RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium in their first Group D fixture.
Strachan’s side lost 5-0 to Artmedia Bratislava in his first Champions League qualifier in at the start of season 2005/06.
Last season, Celtic were beaten away by Manchester United, Copenhagen and Benfica but still got through to the knockout stages going out to eventual winners AC Milan in the last 16 in extra-time at the San Siro.
The Bhoys drew 1-1 against Spartak Moscow in the Luzhniki Stadium in the first leg of this season’s third qualifying round before going through on penalties to join Shakhtar, AC Milan and Benfica in a tricky group.
And Strachan defended Celtic’s away form in the Champions League: “If you count Milan taking over 100 minutes to score against us last season, and then us drawing against Spartak as poor, then fair enough. I think it’s good.
“Most teams have a better home record than away record, but we are getting better. I think we have improved over the last few years.’’
Strachan insists the structure of the group stages makes the game against Shakhtar less intense than Spartak.
He said: “We enjoyed the intensity about the home and away aspect of the Spartak Moscow tie.
“It was like going back 15 years, there was an excitement and a thrill that you don’t get in the group stages of the Champions League.
“People ask me if it will be a disaster if we lose tomorrow.
“Well, we lost the first game at Manchester United last year and still qualified. That is the difference.”
Shakhtar spent £40million rebuilding their squad over the summer and top the Ukrainian league.
Celtic go into the game having scored five goals in each of their last three SPL games, putting them top of the table for the first time this season.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
