In the latest episode of Stick to Football, Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright were discussing the highs and lows of European football.
Celtic and Rangers were mentioned by the quartet, with the obvious of what the atmosphere is like at both Parkhead and Ibrox on European nights.
Gary Neville remembered one of the great nights in Celtic’s history when the legendary Shunsuke Nakamura scored a stunning free-kick against Manchester United in 2006, before Artur Boruc’s memorable penalty save.
But the former Manchester United right-back claimed that, whilst the atmosphere at Celtic was ‘loud’, he had ‘never seen anything like that in my life’ when talking about the noise inside Ibrox during a game for Manchester United.
Roy Keane was quick to remind his former teammate that ‘Celtic Park is a better atmosphere’, as he told The Overlap.
Not only did the former midfielder enjoy success at Old Trafford, including winning the Treble in 1999, but he also donned the Celtic colours for a short period.
Therefore, the Irishman is always going to have a soft spot for the Bhoys, as was discussed by Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane and Ian Wright.
Celtic and Rangers on European nights
“We got beat against Celtic and the Japanese boy scored,” said Neville as he tried to remember Nakamura’s name.
“Oh my, we absolutely killed in the first half and we just couldn’t put the ball into the back of the net and he scored, what’s he called the Japanese kid? Nakamura, something like that.”
Roy Keane added: “He was a very good player him and he was, obviously, good at set-pieces.”
Neville then claimed: “The best atmosphere I have seen in my life was Ibrox as the game was about to start. I thought what the ____ is this?! Celtic was loud and Galatasaray. Phil scored early on. Honestly, for the first couple of minutes before the game and when the game started. I have never seen anything like that in my life, noise Ibrox, honestly, it was unbelievable. Staggering.”
Keane then reminded his former teammate: “Celtic Park is a better atmosphere, though, isn’t it.”
Celtic trying to find that European spark
The hope now is that Celtic can find that spark in the Champions League again because for far too long now it hasn’t been there.
Yes, the most-recent Champions League campaign was another one to forget, but the team still managed to secure a win over Feyenoord just to end the barren run.
Now it’s a case of backing Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market and trying to create those magical nights again because it’s needed and much missed in Glasgow.
That will be Rodgers’ biggest challenge in what is his second stint as Celtic boss.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
