Celtic relish United clash

Chairman John Reid could not hide his delight and amazement after seeing Celtic paired with holders Manchester United in the group stages of the Champions League.

The Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions will face their second so-called ’Battle of Britain’ in three seasons against the Old Trafford club following today’s draw in Monaco.

Celtic and United are the headline acts in Group E, which also contains Spanish runners-up Villarreal and Danish champions Aalborg.

Reid was stunned by the draw, revealing it took place moments after he had met delegates from his club’s forthcoming opponents.

He said on Sky Sports News: “The three people we were talking to before the draw were Sir Alex Ferguson, the United people, Villarreal and Aalborg and we got the three of them there.”

After meeting AC Milan last year, Reid is relishing facing the holders in the group stages for the second straight season, saying: “It’s a big one, isn’t it?

“We seem to make a habit of drawing the European champions!

“It’s fabulous for Celtic fans. There are no easy groups, there are no free passes in Europe. We’re just proud to be Scotland’s representative in there and to be playing the European champions.”

Celtic met United competitively for the first time in 2006-07, avenging a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford with a 1-0 victory at Parkhead, which helped them reach the knockout phase for the first time.

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura starred in both matches, scoring a stunning winner in the second game.

Reid said: “We pipped United the last time at Celtic Park but there’s no gainsaying the fact they’re the European champions.

“They’ve got Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Ferguson is a great manager. But Gordon Strachan’s been doing very, very well.

“And if we’ve managed to beat people like AC Milan, Benfica, Man United and get through twice in a row to the last 16, wouldn’t it be fabulous if we managed to to that again?”

Villarreal will also be familiar opponents for Celtic fans, the Spaniards beating the Hoops 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2004.

They also ended Rangers’ dreams of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals in 2006 with an away-goals success in their last-16 clash.

Danish champions Aalborg, who Reid described as “a bit of an unknown quantity” ultimately profited from Rangers’ failure to reach this season’s group phase.

They beat Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas, who shocked Walter Smith’s men in the previous qualifying round.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was thrilled at the prospect of facing United again and sees no reason why the Scottish champions cannot make it a hat-trick of knockout phase appearances.

He told Scotland Today: “At this level, it’s a formidable task to qualify but I think we’ve got a good chance.

“If we qualify three years running, it would be a remarkable achievement and I do genuinely believe we have a chance to do that.

“Overall, we are delighted. In Manchester United, we again welcome the European champions to Celtic Park. We know them well and we have a good relationship with the club.

“We remember the two epics we played two years ago at Old Trafford and the dramatic circumstances of the victory at Celtic Park. They were two great nights so we are really looking forward to it.”

He added: “First and foremost, we are in this because it’s the best football competition in the world and it’s a privilege to be a part of that. The financials run alongside and are really important.

“But the privilege, the profile, the exposure that playing in this tournament gives you around the world is fantastic.”

Meanwhile, Lawwell refused to be drawn on whether Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will be allowed to strengthen his squad further before next week’s transfer deadline.

“We are working on things,” he said. “Time is obviously ticking against us, but who knows?”