Strachan: Gravesen can handle abuse

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan believes Thomas Gravesen will be unaffected by the unsavoury chants which could come from his fellow countrymen in tonight’s Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen.

In their Group F clash at Celtic Park, the visiting fans sang in a vitriolic fashion about the Danish midfielder’s partner Kira Eggers, a model who has appeared in adult movies.

Gravesen, 30, who recently quit playing international football, has refused to talk to the media in his homeland and could come in for similar treatment from the Parken Stadium fans tonight.

However, Strachan insists the former Everton player’s experience of Scottish football will allow him to get on with his game, regardless of what he may hear from the Danish supporters.

“I didn’t have a clue what the Copenhagen fans were saying at Celtic Park,” Strachan said.

“But I was reading this book about Scottish football and in it there were some horrible chants that I thought I would never hear.

“Some of the songs about (former Hibernian manager) Tony Mowbray were as low as you can get.

“So, if you get through some of those chants at Hibs and Hearts, you can get through anything.”

Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken believes Gravesen should worry more about his Swedish midfielder Tobias Linderoth than any possible stick from the home support.

He said: “The hardest time for Gravesen will come from Linderoth, not from the fans.

“I’m sure the supporters will concentrate on the game but I don’t think Gravesen will cry if the fans boo him a few times.”

Celtic qualified for the last 16 of the tournament for the first time when they beat Manchester United 1-0 at home last month.

The Glasgow side will guarantee themselves top spot in the section, and a seeding in the last-16 draw, if they beat the Danes.

However, winning away from Celtic Park in the Champions League is something the Parkhead side have never managed to do in 11 attempts.

But Strachan insists that unwanted record will not spoil his finest European achievement to date.

He said: “The funny thing about it is, because we have qualified for the next round, it doesn’t worry me one little bit. It just doesn’t worry me.

“If we had to win to get through it could be different, but I think the fact we have qualified outweighs an away victory.

“It would be nice to have one but the positives we have created more than makes up for that.”