McManus backs battling Boruc

CELTIC captain Stephen McManus hailed Artur Boruc’s character after the goalkeeper followed his Easter Road blunder with a clean sheet in the Champions League win over Villarreal.

Boruc retained his place on Wednesday night after misjudging John Rankin’s 45-yard strike in Sunday’s 2-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at Hibernian.

The Celtic fans saluted the ‘Holy Goalie’ before Champions League game and continually serenaded Boruc during the second-half.

The Poland keeper repaid their vocal backing and the support of manager Gordon Strachan by pulling off an impressive block from Nihat Kahveci after his defence had allowed the Villarreal sub a clean run on goal.

And his captain also stood firmly behind Boruc after he bounced back from the latest error in an uncharacteristically difficult season for the Pole.

“He is a big player, he is a personality,” McManus said.

“When he is on his game, Artur is one of the best in the world.

“You don’t realise how good he is until you work with him. Artur showed again he is a top goalkeeper.”

Striker Georgios Samaras, who like Boruc has undergone knee surgery in recent months, also backed the Celtic number one.

“Goalkeeper is a really hard job if you make a mistake,” Samaras said.

“But he is a great goalkeeper and he has a big character.

“You saw what a great save it was in the second half. I’m not worried about Artur.”

Boruc’s solid performance was just one positive aspect of a pleasing night for Celtic, who comfortably secured Scotland’s first European win of the season.