Hinkel believes in Hoops

Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel is confident the Hoops will free themselves at last of their unwanted Champions League record by winning their first away match against Aalborg in Denmark on Tuesday night.

The Parkhead side have taken just one point from a possible 51 in Champions League group phase matches outside Parkhead and will be out of the tournament if they fail to beat the Danes.

A victory, however, and three points for Manchester United at Villarreal in the other Group E clash that night, would leave the Scottish champions needing a win over the ’Yellow Submarine’ in Glasgow on match day six to take them in to the last 16 for the third season in succession.

The German international, who put in another fine performance in the 3-1 win over St Mirren at Love Street on Saturday, believes history will be made at the Energi Nord Stadium.

“It is incredible to hear about this record but I think it will come to an end on Tuesday,” Hinkel said.

“A record like this normally doesn’t matter, but it is there in the heads of everyone, and Tuesday is a chance to change it.

“It is a chance to set us free. This is a part of the history of Celtic, and we can change it. It will be a hard game. Aalborg will fight, and so will we.

“It is the last chance for both teams. Both teams can go through to the UEFA Cup, and we can still go through to the last 16.

“Okay, it is not a big chance, but it is still possible. It is not in our own hands. We need Manchester United to win in Villarreal.

“But nothing is impossible in football, and if we win, and Manchester United win, then it will be like a final at Celtic Park [against Villarreal).

“Any team can struggle at Celtic Park with its atmosphere – and they would have problems with that.”

Hinkel believes an early goal against Aalborg, who carved out a 3-0 win over Vejle at the weekend, would calm the nerves and set the visitors on their way to what would be a famous victory.

He said: “We have to do what we did against Hearts at Tynecastle – get off to a very good start and be very quick, very tight.

“And then if we score, great. We had a chance to score early on in Villarreal but we didn’t do it.

“But I think every run has to finish at some point.”