THE NEXT STEP

Ryan Christie on resuming Celtic’s Euro journey and aiming for the top

- JOE DONNELLY

BARCELONA, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Juventus. As a player, Neil Lennon helped the Hoops topple some of Europe’s stiffest competition during his seven years on the pitch at Paradise.

As a manager, the Irishman’s European record is no less impressive. Spartak Moscow, Ajax and Rennes are all among the high-profile scalps he’s claimed from the dugout, and who could forget that fairy tale evening in 2012 when the Scottish champions thwarted the late Tito Vilanova’s Catalan giants on home soil, Lionel Messi and all.

Another of the club’s most impressive Euro triumphs came during this season’s UEFA Europa League campaign, when Neil Lennon’s men defeated Serie A giants, Lazio home and away. Ryan Christie netted the first of two in Glasgow – a goal which, by his own admission, he’ll remember for the rest of his life.

“At the start of the season, the gaffer said he thought this club had something to prove in Europe again,” said Christie in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “There are so many teams across Europe that are considered big teams, and we want to make sure that we’re still considered as a European giant. To be thought of like that, you need to prove it with a good run in Europe.”

Finishing top of their Europa League group with 13 points suggests it’s so far so good on that front.

The Hoops dropped points on just two occasions in the last stage – a draw with Rennes in France on matchday one, and an inconsequential defeat to Cluj in Romania on matchday six, when first place was already guaranteed – and now stare down a last-32 encounter with FC Copenhagen.