Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirovic has some very nice things to say about Celtic.
The sides meet in the Europa League knockout round play-off this evening, in a re-run of their tie during Martin O’Neill’s run to the final in 2003.
Bosnian international Demirovic has averaged a goal every 117 minutes in the Bundesliga this season, but he’s under no illusions over the challenge posed by Celtic – he even has memories of watching them in his youth.
He said: “When I was younger I’d watch Celtic’s games in the Champions League.
“They had incredible players and the club has so much history. I remember the green and the whole stadium standing up in unison with their scarves.
“Everyone who loves football has Celtic in their heads, especially me as a young boy. It certainly left an impression.”
Callum has named his Celtic XI to face Stuttgart…
How would your starting XI look?
Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirovic on Celtic Park
Demirovic said on the stadium: “You associate them with the stadium and the atmosphere.
“You’ve seen it as a child and now you want to soak it up in the game but we’re staying focused on the job.
“We know it’s a stadium that can get really loud but we don’t want to be blown away by that. We’re used to having a good atmosphere at home so we shouldn’t make too much of it.”
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou rules out Celtic return, explains stance and reflects on spell
Demirovic is also familiar with Celtic’s Arne Engels, who is unavailable for the tie through injury. The pair played together for Augsburg.
On his former teammate, Demirovic said: “Arne text me after the draw. I hope to see him after the match.
“I told him from the first day I met him he’s a very talented player and he needed that step to a bigger club.
“He’s showing everyone he can play in the top leagues and for top teams. I follow him and I keep in touch with him.
“I’m very happy for him that he’s been playing like he is. I’m a little fan of his. He’s a really good guy and a really good player.”
“I expect a lot from them. They are a team who have had a very turbulent season with lots of changes of coach.
“The current coach has a special history here. They’re a team who have found form recently after their ups and downs.
“It’s one of the toughest draws but one of the most exciting, given we have the chance to play in this historic stadium.”
What is one stadium that comes close to Celtic Park in terms of atmosphere?
Or can none compare?
Celtic’s European performance so far
Celtic weren’t supposed to be in the Europa League this season – they have their disastrous Champions League defeat to Kairat Almaty to blame for their Thursday-Sunday schedule this season.
But it hasn’t all been bad in Europe this season. Along with Rotterdam and Bologna, Celtic’s performance against Red Star in Belgrade was also encouraging.
It’s also important to note the remarkable fact that O’Neill was the last Celtic manager to win a European tie after Christmas, doing so against Barcelona in the UEFA Cup in 2004.
Over the last decade-and-a-half, many of the club’s European campaigns have been desperately underwhelming; it would be very fitting for O’Neill to buck that trend.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
