Champions League: Celtic boss targets return

Martin O'Neill believes Celtic's Champions League experience has made them even hungrier to return next season.

Celtic went into the game needing to beat Juventus at Parkhead while hoping that Rosenborg would do them a favour by holding Porto.

Juventus were beaten 4-3 in a Parkhead thriller - but then learned the Portuguese side reached the second phase with a 1-0 win.

Celtic missed out by a single point in Group E, but O'Neill believes the Uefa Cup will help to console them.

But he insisted the Champions League is where the players now want to be every year - which will help spur them on to win the domestic title and guarantee a repeat next season.

O'Neill said: "I know the lads are very disappointed in the dressing room - but the Uefa Cup is still a great competition. It will be a great experience.

"But this competition has definitely whetted the club's appetite and while they might be disappointed they will want to get back next season - and we will try to do that."

The Celtic boss reckons his team have gone out of Europe's premier competition with their heads held high.

O'Neill continued: "We played splendidly well and I couldn't ask for any more from the players.

"It was a good performance - we played great football and Juventus played great football as well.

"We tried for the fans, but it was disappointing at the end of the evening, but that's the way it goes.

"We wanted to win the game and we thought something might happen in Porto, but it wasn't case and they won 1-0 - but the players have done the club proud tonight."

Lubo Moravcik inspired his side to a sensational victory. The veteran playmaker played a key role in all four Celtic goals, with Chris Sutton hitting a double and Henrik Larsson and Joos Valgaeren notching the others.

Juventus, however, showed their class with a David Trezeguet brace and another for Alessandro Del Piero.

But O'Neill could not hide his admiration for his mercurial Slovakian - and admitted he would love to have him in his prime and 10 years younger.

He said: "He is a very, very good player but he has to retire at some stage.

"He is 36 years of age but he was excellent tonight and he was obviously getting a bit tired.

"But this was a terrific stage for him and I suppose I'm really disappointed that he is not 25 or 26 instead of 36. It was a great stage for him and he was fantastic."

Juventus coach Marcello Lippi was also impressed with Moravcik and felt he was playing "fantasy" football.

The Italian said: "Lubo is a very good player - he has got that fantasy and a good technique."