| L | Player Homepage | Player Pictures | A to Z of Players | Seville | Forum | |
Larsson rates Old Firm top
CELTIC legend Henrik Larsson has insisted Spanish football's clash of the titans between Real Madrid and Barcelona will always remain in the shadow of the Old Firm derby.
Larsson joined Barca after calling it a day at the Hoops back in 2004 and took part in the clashes with Real that are generally regarded as the most explosive fixtures La Liga has to offer.
However, he admits the volume level from the stands in the Nou Camp and Bernabeu are nothing compared to Parkhead and Ibrox.
Larsson said: "If you talk about the Old Firm, I think it is the biggest derby in the world.
"Nothing else even comes close to it.
"I've played 'El Clasico' in Barcelona against Real Madrid and it's a nice game, but it doesn't reach the same noise level as you get in Glasgow.
"It's a big football city with two big football teams and there are always lots of feelings and emotions whenever the Old Firm games are played." Larsson knows many observers feel the UEFA Cup has become something of a consolation trophy in recent years, but he defended the competition.
The veteran, who lifted the Champions League with Barcelona last season, said: "I know it is second to the Champions League, but the UEFA Cup is a brilliant competition.
"Maybe it starts off a bit slowly, but you can feel the tension and the importance as soon as you approach the quarter-finals and semi-finals." Larsson lost a UEFA Cup Final with Celtic, going down 3-2 to FC Porto in extra-time in Seville four years ago, and admits the painful memories of that night are still hard to deal with.
He said: "I still feel bad when I talk about it. I try to forget it.
"Scoring two goals in the final and not picking up the trophy was not very nice, so I don't really remember that much about the evening." Larsson is back with Swedish outfit Helsingborgs after a successful loan spell with Manchester United and winding down his top-level career.
He said: "If I reach a moment when I don't feel it's fun any more, that's the day I should stop.
"I hope it is going to take a bit longer before I get that feeling.
"The thing that really drives me on is the motivation to play football."