2008-11-05: Celtic 1-1 Manchester Utd, Champs Lge

Match Pictures | Champions League | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures

Trivia

• McGeady, Naka, Samaras & JVoH out injured!
• Muppet fan again ran onto the pitch (why the hell do they do these things?), which held up the game for a few mins.

Review

Heart breaking stuff. Pre-match omens were not good with McGeady, Naka, Samaras & JVoH out, a 3-0 defeat just behind us against Man U last time, poor weather, financial gulf between the clubs etc etc. Nevertheless, we started more spritely against Man U at home, and Skippy scored a cracking lobbed goal which if it was scored by Man U would have been salivated over by the commentators for weeks on end. First half was even enough, and we could hold our heads up high. Second half saw a more cavalier effort by Man U who bombarded our goals for the whole 45mins, but the Celtic defence was immense, but we couldn’t hold out forever and an unfortunate parry down by THG saw Ryan Giggs snatch an equaliser, and at the death we were lucky when Berbatov scuffed a shot at goal. We could have ourselves earlier in the 2nd half scored a second with a header by Sheridan, but wasn’t to be. Nevertheless, restores our pride back to an extent and onto Aalborg away next.

Also, Ronaldo is a wee nyaff, and should have been sent off for taking a kick-swipe at Wilson. Add in calling for a yellow card for a Celtic player, continual diving and whinging, he really is becoming amock-villianfigure for many in football (even Man U!).

Teams

Celtic:-
Boruc,
Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson,
Hartley, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (O’Dea 75),
McDonald (Hutchinson 81), Sheridan (Donati 63)
Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Naylor, Nakamura, Caddis.
Goal:- McDonald 13.

Manchester Utd:-
Foster, Rafael Da Silva (Evra 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani (Berbatov 46), Tevez (Rooney 71), Giggs.
Subs Not Used:- Kuszczak, Anderson, Park, Evans.
Booked:- Nani.
Goal:- Giggs 84.

Attendance:- 58,903
Referee:- Tom Ovrebo (Norway)

Articles

• Match Report (BBC)
• UEFA

Quotes

“Technically they are a million miles away from us, but we showed tonight that we are men. I am happy at 1-1. I am happy we gave them a good game. I am happy that we are not ‘boys’, as some people said.” “Whatever we are, we are men,” said the Celtic boss. “You cannot play like that if you are not men. We should never be called ‘boys’, that’s for sure, because boys don’t fight like that.”
WGS

Referring to the tremendous atmosphere created by the Celtic fans, Strachan said: “It was rocking. It is the best in Europe on a night like this.”
WGS

Ferguson isnt scared to say it – at the post match press conference he said, talking about the CP atmosphere:
“We [Man Utd] would love to have an atmosphere like that, but…” and then doesn’t say anything else. Says it all.
Alex Ferguson

Pictures

• Match Pictures

KStreet

• Pre-match
• Match
• MOTM
  • Result – Caldwell (Link to MOTM Winners 2008/09)
• Post Match

Stats

Articles

Strachan hails Celtic’s spirit.

CELTIC boss Gordon Strachan hailed his team’s spirit after seeing them pick up their second Champions League point of the season.

The corresponding fixture between the two sides a fortnight ago ended in a 3-0 United win.

The Scot described that fixture as “men against boys” but felt his team did themselves proud against what he admits was far superior opposition.

“Last time I said that it was men against boys but we’re not boys, we are men. That’s what we have shown tonight,” said Strachan.

“They are far better than us. Technically they are a million miles away from us but what we did show tonight was that we are men.

“We can be hard to beat because we have a great team spirit here. We may not be the best group of players in the world but we have a great spirit.”

Strachan bemoaned a series of injuries that had hit his side prior to the match.

“We tried our best. The lad that came on (Ben Hutchinson) was our seventh choice striker and it was just too much for him,” said Strachan.

“At the end I said we could do with some strikers coming in but we didn’t have anyone so that was a problem. We needed something to kick start us tonight, either a goal or a big performance.

“We needed that quality because we were missing seven players tonight, five of who would have made the side.

Meanwhile Ryan Giggs rued Manchester United’s inability to claim full points.

“With so little time to go I suppose we’ll settle for draw but with the way we played and our tempo in the second half, we probably deserved to win,” said Giggs. “It was a disappointing first half for us but the performance in the second half was much better. We came out and worked really hard and kept them pinned down.

“We knew chances would come. We knew we just had to keep the crosses and the one-twos going, keep the tempo up and it would come.”

Giggs’s goal was a header from close range after Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc could only parry a Cristiano Ronaldo shot. “It’s always worth following up a shot like that with the ball moving all over the place,” Giggs said. “I just gambled and it fell right onto my head.”

(c) 2008, The Irish Times.

Irish Times

EQUALISER SPARES THE BLUSHES OF FERGUSON; CELTIC 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

RYAN GIGGS came to Manchester United’s rescue just when it seemed Sir Alex Ferguson’s Guy Fawkes Night gamble was about to blow up in his face.

Ferguson left Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov on the bench, and when Celtic took the lead after 13 minutes, then followed it with a defensive show of defiance, Fergie’s plans seemed to be backfiring.

But after relentless pressure Giggs eventually saved the day when he headed home six minutes from time after Artur Boruc had failed to hold a swerving shot from Cristiano Ronaldo.

For the Celtic fans who witnessed last night’s Champions League contest here at Parkhead, this draw must lift their spirits after their comprehensive demolition at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.

They have a fine record here in this competition. In their last 18 matches they have suffered just one defeat, and that was to Barcelona. But even their supporters considered a United victory an inevitability on this occasion, so superior were they on that last meeting.

That, however, was before Ferguson decided he would begin preparing for Saturday’s visit to Arsenal by resting key personnel for this, and before he concluded that securing a place in the last 16 of the competition was a formality.

United’s progress is now virtually assured but Celtic made life that much more difficult thanks to a terrific first-half goal from Scott McDonald.

They might have considered themselves inferior, and in the opening 45 minutes they might have had just 38 per cent of the ball. But they used what possession they had to good effect and ultimately punished United for their arrogance. Celtic might have produced an abject performance at Old Trafford but, as they have so often proved in the past, they are a very different side here in Glasgow.

Now, United have to visit a Villarreal side who have already secured a goalless draw at Old Trafford, while Celtic travel to Aalborg in the knowledge that a win will guarantee a place in the UEFA Cup — and could even give them an an outside chance of qualifying for the knockout phase.

Ferguson had left Rooney and Berbatov on the bench, obviously with Saturday’s trip to Arsenal very much in mind. It would not have provided Celtic with that much encouragement, not when Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Giggs remained in the United attack, but it was something when the opposition were, in the words of Strachan, the best in the world.

Understandably, that 13th-minute opening goal carried more significance. United had started well enough, dominating possession and even threatening when Ronaldo unleashed a free-kick that flew inches over the crossbar.

But when 18-year- old Rafael hacked down Shaun Maloney and conceded a free-kick, Celtic suddenly found themselves in front. Nemanja Vidic’s headed clearance was deflected only as far as McDonald, who spotting Ben Foster well off his line and beat the United keeper with a brilliant lob.

Had Foster been caught out of position? It certainly looked that way.

How the first goal of Celtic’s Champions League campaign lifted spirits here at Parkhead. How it gave a side so comprehensively beaten in Manchester the belief that history could indeed repeat itself.

The game changed dramatically as a result. Their confidence restored, it was Celtic who now applied the pressure and United who found themselves chasing the ball. The English champions needed to regain their composure, and fast.

While an animated Strachan barked orders from the technical area, Ferguson nevertheless remained calm. Even when Maloney tested Foster with a dangerouslydipping shot that the Englishman actually did well to hold. It was turning into a terrific game. A contest between two teams playing fast, fluent football. Ronaldo and Tevez pressed at one end, McDonald and Cillian Sheridan at the other.

Ronaldo continued to look dangerous as he drifted between the flanks. He drove one ball across the face of Celtic’s goal only to see his team-mates fail to get there, and theatened again with a testing cross from the left.

But a Celtic defence that appeared to fragile a fortnight ago were holding firm on this occasion, much to the obvious frustration of their illustrious visitors.

Ferguson did at least respond by replacing Nani with Berbatov at the start of the second half and slightly changed his formation. Giggs was now on the left of an attacking trio deployed to support Berbatov.

The reshuffle so nearly produced the equaliser in the 57th minute when Berbatov pounced on a Vidic header with what looked like an unstoppable volley. But the ubiquitous Maloney was in the right place again, clearing off the line. It prompted claims from United that they had in fact scored but their protests were ignored by both Tom Henning Ovrebo and his assistants.

While it was proving increasingly difficult for Celtic to absorb the considerable pressure they were under, they still reminded United of the threat they could pose. Sheridan went particularly close with a header in the 61st minute.

m.lawton@dailymail.co.uk

(c) 2008 Associated Newspapers. All rights reserved

Daily Mail

Celtic 1-1 Manchester United

By Keir Murray

BBC

A late header by Ryan Giggs gave United a deserved point in this thoroughly entertaining Champions League match.

The home crowd were ecstatic when Scott McDonald’s delightful lob from 14 yards gave Celtic a 13th-minute lead.

United pinned Celtic back for much of the first half, but stout defending limited the Red Devils to half chances.

Giggs headed an 84th-minute equaliser when Artur Boruc could only parry a Cristiano Ronaldo shot, then Dimitar Berbatov missed a great late chance.

The result leaves United requiring a point for certain qualification, while for Celtic, with Villarreal six points ahead, they must win their last two matches and hope the Spaniards fail to take a further point.

When United took to the field on a crisp Glasgow evening wearing their all-blue strip, you suspected former Rangers striker Sir Alex Ferguson was enjoying a joke.

With a noticeable difference in quality between the squads, Celtic were hoping that the noise and passion created by their fans could unsettle the visitors and embolden their own starting 11, which was minus the talents of the injured Aiden McGeady.

Having played McDonald as a lone striker at Old Trafford, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan gave 19-year-old Cillian Sheridan his Champions League debut, believing the Irishman’s physical presence could test Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

The match started at a frantic pace, with Giggs, partnering Carlos Tevez up front, looking in the mood to inflict damage on Celtic’s European hopes.

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A brutal challenge by Barry Robson on his international team-mate Darren Fletcher allowed Ronaldo to have a crack at goal, though his free-kick sailed a few yards over Boruc’s bar.

Celtic caught their breath and began to venture forward with runs by Maloney.

If the opening exchanges were characterised by passing and shooting that lacked precision, the opening goal was an example of perfect finishing.

A speculative header found Gary Caldwell at the edge of the United box and his cushioned header set up McDonald, in the inside left position, who remained composed to lob Ben Foster, in only his second start, from 14 yards.

Media conference: Strachan happy at draw but frustrated with injuries

It was Celtic’s first goal in the Champions League this season and the first conceded by the cup holders.

United responded by increasing the pace of their play. Michael Carrick, Tevez, Fletcher and Ronaldo had Strachan’s men pinned back.

Ferdinand volleyed an awkward ball over from three yards, a Vidic header was cleared off the line by Celtic captain Stephen McManus and the same player went close from one of many United corners.

Former Villa striker Maloney offered the home defence occasional relief. On the half-hour mark he cut inside from the left wing and rifled a dipping shot directly at Foster, who gathered well.
Celtic’s Scott McDonald is congratulated on his first-half goal
Celtic’s Scott McDonald is congratulated on his first-half goal

United looked most menacing when they played the ball quickly through midfield. In one such spurt, Giggs seized on an error by Paul Hartley, ran at the Celtic rearguard and ought to have tested Boruc.

Instead he slid the ball wide of Nani and the chance to equalise was gone.

For all the Red Devils’ superior technique and movement, in open play Celtic were able to frustrate the visitors on their raids.

On numerous occasions, Caldwell and McManus and a retreating midfield got in the way of United’s efforts at goal.

Strachan will have been satisfied at the workrate and intelligence of his players. Scott Brown, Barry Robson and Paul Hartley hounded Carrick and Fletcher incessantly and for the greater part, held on to the ball when they could.

Ferguson’s half-time talk encouraged United to up their game at the re-start, but not before Maloney curled a long-range shot in at Foster.

In a raucous atmosphere, the Celtic fans cheered their team on as they stymied successive waves of United attacks.

Caldwell cleared a dangerous low cross by Tevez, then a low left-footed shot by Ronaldo found the grateful gloves of Celtic’s Polish keeper Boruc.

Substitute Berbatov came close when his flick-on from five yards was cleared off the line by Maloney.

Rooney came on for Tevez for the last 20 minutes and his first involvement in the game was a long-range shot which Boruc turned round the post.

News conference – Ryan Giggs

With just six minutes remaining, United levelled the match.

Boruc was unable to hold a thunderous swerving shot by Ronaldo from 25 yards and in rushed the veteran Giggs to head home as Boruc lay helpless.

United could have snatched a victory in the final seconds when the ball was played into Berbatov.

His shot on the turn whipped past Boruc’s right-hand post and Celtic’s slim chances of reaching the knockout stages remained intact.

A fan came onto the pitch during the game, causing the match to be stopped for a few moments.

Strathclyde Police said a 19-year-old man was detained in connection with the incident, and would appear before Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Hartley, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (O’Dea 75), McDonald (Hutchinson 81), Sheridan (Donati 63).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Naylor, Nakamura, Caddis.

Goals: McDonald 13.

Manchester Utd: Foster, Rafael Da Silva (Evra 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani (Berbatov 46), Tevez (Rooney 71), Giggs.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Anderson, Park, Evans.

Booked: Nani.

Goals: Giggs 84.

Attendance: 58,903

Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway)