O'Neill admits Champions League challenge is daunting

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill fears his side may be making up the numbers when the Champions League starts next week.

After being paired in Group F with Barcelona, AC Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk, the odds are against the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions qualifying.

Celtic kick off their campaign against Henrik Larsson’s new side at Parkhead on Tuesday and O’Neill acknowledges just how tough it is for his side to reach the next stage.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has spent £45m (€65.9m) on Larsson, Sylvinho, Deco, Ludovic Giuly, Edmilson, Juliano Belletti and Samuel Eto’o.

O’Neill said: “You don’t want to be going into it just to make up the numbers, although that might eventually be what happens. But you want to go and do as well as you possibly can and, to do that, you need a bit of quality.

“What have Barcelona done? They have gone and added players. That shows their clear intentions of shaking up La Liga and the Champions league.

“AC Milan are AC Milan, and I have not even mentioned the other side because I can’t spell it. My view is that the Champions League games really are something else in terms of the amount of effort that gets put into them in order to stay with the particular teams we are involved with.

“We will need every single point possible regardless of whether our attitude is right, it is the effort you put in.”

Teenage goalkeeper David Marshall also concedes it is the most difficult Champions League group they have faced.

But the Scotland international, who was the hero in the Nou Camp last season when Celtic knocked Barcelona out of the UEFA Cup, believes his team-mates are up for the challenge.

Marshall said: “I was watching it and beforehand I thought we would get either Barcelona or Real Madrid, and then I thought Barcelona was a certainty.

“It is probably the hardest draw we have ever had in the Champions League and to get through it will be very hard.

“But it is something we have been hoping to do for two or three years now, so hopefully we can do it this time.”

While O’Neill winced when the draw was made, he is relishing the prospect of his third Champions League campaign.

He added: “It is a very difficult group but, at the same time, you can’t hide the excitement. We have had queues of people outside for tickets. We have three home games for the majority of our fans to come and have a look at.

“And, if you can’t be excited about AC Milan and Barcelona, then you really do not want to be in the competition.”