Champions League: Petta turns it on for his folks

Bobby Petta last night revealed what inspired him to turn on the magic which left Ajax’s Champions League dream in tatters.

The Dutchman, who was an injury scare hours before the game, declared himself fit and sent Celtic on their way to a brilliant 3-1 victory over the Dutch giants in the Amsterdam Arena.

Goals from him, Didier Agathe and Chris Sutton put Celtic on their way to the Champions League group stages for the first time in the history.

A goal from Shota Arveladze gave Ajax a glimmer of hope, but it is hard to see them turning the result around at Parkhead in a fortnight.

But Petta had personal success and his strike and all-round performance was all the more satisfying as his family watched the former Feyenoord winger dazzle in his homeland.

Petta said: "I’m really pleased with the way it went as a Dutch player.

"It was a special night for me because I had friends and family in the stadium to watch me.

"I wanted to show them and the fans that I play for a really good team and we were really happy at the end."

Petta also believes that he was not the only one who had something to prove as his team-mates illustrated that they can compete in Europe.

Despite winning the European Cup in 1967, Celtic have never qualified for the group stages of the Champions League.

But that dream is now a distinct possibility and Petta believes Martin O’Neill’s men, and in particularly strikers Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton, have proved some of the cynics wrong.

The former Ipswich star added: "We knew before that we were a better team than them, but you have to go out and show it when the whistle goes.

"Our front two - Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton - were superb against them and we thoroughly deserved our victory."

Petta almost did not play after hobbling off at Kilmarnock on Saturday - but O’Neill was delighted he did.

The manager said: "I didn’t envisage that Bobby Petta would play after seeing him go off against Kilmarnock.

"He had cramp more than anything else, but I didn’t think he would play even before the game.

"But he told me that he felt fine and I was prepared to go with it and it worked. I wouldn’t have bet at all on him playing so I’m very pleased that he did.

"He said it was different circumstances to the CIS Insurance Cup final when he hobbled off with an injury. He certainly felt he could play and I was happy enough with that."

Ajax manager Co Adriaanse admitted his side were outclassed, but also refused to throw in the towel.

He said: "We were taught a lesson in football tonight and they proved they are a very good team.

"It’s possible to still go through - everything’s possible in football.

"But I have to be honest and say if they play in the style of tonight or even better and we play like we did then it’s going to be very difficult mission to score three goals."