Bonner: Celts must stop the ‘greatest’

As Celtic prepare for tonight’s formidable Champions League test against Barcelona, Parkhead old boy Packie Bonner reckons they’ll have to contend with, not just the best player in the world, but the greatest player there’s ever been.

Asked how highly he would rate Lionel Messi in the pantheon, the legendary Irish goalkeeper doesn’t miss a beat with his reply.

“Top. Of all time. Absolutely. There’s no question. You can’t stop him. You look at his ability and his goal-scoring record but you also look at the way he defends. He’ll go and close people down. He’s up there, I think, above anyone I’ve seen. He’s sustained it now at that standard for quite a long time.”

Still, Bonner believes that, if such a thing can ever be considered possible, Celtic are in a position to relish rather than fear their trip to the Nou Camp.

“There’s no pressure on,” he says. “People don’t expect anything. So if they get something out of it — brilliant. If they stop Messi from scoring, it would be another great bonus. So it’s a great opportunity for them. If they had to win this game to qualify, then it would be a different kettle of fish. But they don’t have to do that. The Spartak result was a major one for them and has taken the pressure off. If Celtic get to the last 16 it will be a real achievement for Neil Lennon. And they have a real chance of doing it.”

Qualification for the Champions League has assumed greater significance at Celtic Park, Bonner suggests, in the light of Old Firm rivals Rangers’ catastrophic fall from grace.

“Celtic have to be in the Champions League now to compensate, no question. For the fans’ sake, if they hadn’t got to the Champions League it would have been a disaster. From a financial point of view, it’s fine this year, because they made the money from the Champions League. They’re in a very good position there. But it’s next year and the year after — and, for that reason, the quicker Rangers are back into the SPL the better.”