Scott Brown hoping to put Cluj handball behind him with Celtic result this week

By John McGinley

September 30, 2019

Celtic captain Scott Brown is hoping to put to rest his major error against Cluj in UEFA Champions League qualifying with a big result against the Romanians this week, The Scottish Sun report.

The captain bizarrely handballed in the box during the recent 4-3 defeat to Dan Petrescu’s side. It ensured we conceded a penalty at a key moment in the tie, contributing massively to us going out of the competition.

Brown acknowledges it was a horror moment, but feels he and and his teammates have a score to settle against our visitors this Thursday.

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, he said: “I think we owe them one to be perfectly honest — and especially me. In the last match I gave away a hand ball, and that is not like me. It was just one of those freak moments.

“Is it still in the back of my mind? There’s a LOT in the back of my mind! There’s a big book there! But you don’t dwell on it too long.

“It was a disappointing performance but we are in the Europa League now, and we’ve got Cluj yet again. We know how they play and they know how we play. It’s going to be a good game.”

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

A defining game in the group

Thursday is an absolutely massive match in the context of progression to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League. It’s an opportunity for the Hoops to show they have learned and improved from that prior grim night against Cluj.

After a positive result away to Rennes on matchday one, Neil Lennon’s men have set themselves up well for the other five games.

The home fixtures are absolutely crucial though and in a potentially tight group maximum points could ensure European football after Christmas.

If we win against Cluj, we will bring serious momentum into the double header against Lazio. We face the Italians at home first so there’s a real chance we can grab six points from six before our next away trip. That would put us on the verge of going through.

A defeat, or even a draw, meanwhile would immediately put us on the back foot. It’s time to show we are good enough at this level.