Ex-Premier League star John Hartson is backing Celtic in their upcoming Champions League clash against Club Brugge. Ahead of the match, Hartson praised Villa Park as one of his favorite Premier League stadiums and expressed his excitement about the high-stakes fixture. With both teams in contention for a top-eight finish, the game is set to be a crucial one for both sides.
Ex-Premier League Star Backs Celtic vs Club Brugge
Club Brugge will travel to Celtic Park for their fifth match of the Champions League group stage once the international break ends.
After securing a crucial 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in their previous match, the Belgian team will travel to Glasgow full of confidence.
However, Bell believes the result was more due to Aston Villa’s poor performance than Club Brugge’s strong play.
As a result, Bell feels that facing Celtic at Celtic Park will be tough, especially with the Hoops in such strong form right now.
“I actually watched the Club Brugge game against Aston Villa and I felt Aston Villa underperformed. They weren’t at their best”, Bell said on Clyde 1’s Superscoreboard.
“I think anybody going to Celtic Park at this moment in time will be fearful of what Celtic can do.
“They are doing so well there, loads of confidence, and for me, yes, they [Club Brugge] are a threat, and Brendan Rodgers will know that.
“But he will be there going out and trying to get the three points from that game because I think they are there for the taking.
“It will be a difficult game because it is the Champions League. They are all difficult games, but I definitely think Celtic will go looking at that game for three points.”
Celtic are currently one point ahead of Club Brugge, with two wins and one draw from their first four matches.
John Hartson Talks Celtic’s Champions League Clash
This will be the first meeting between the two British giants, with several connections between them ahead of the match.
This will be the last match of the newly-structured Champions League group stage, and Unai Emery is generally satisfied with Aston Villa’s performance.
Although it was a tough loss for Aston Villa against Club Brugge last time, the unusual Tyrone Mings handball penalty ultimately made the difference.
Additionally, the Midlands side has yet to concede a goal from open play in Europe, a remarkable feat considering they’ve faced Bayern Munich.
However, there’s still plenty of time before that match takes place, with both Villa and Celtic still in the hunt for a top-eight finish.
One person eagerly anticipating that match is John Hartson, who shared his reasons why.
John Hartson Praises Villa Park Before Celtic Clash
Last season, Villa secured 15 consecutive home wins in the Premier League, including victories over the top two teams, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Additionally, they’ve won both of their Champions League home games, showing that their home crowd continues to lift them to victory.
John Hartson expressed his hope that when Celtic travel south from Glasgow to the Midlands, there will be something at stake in the match, as he told Go Radio.
He also mentioned that Villa Park is “one of my favorite” stadiums, adding that this high-stakes match has the perfect setting.
“What a stadium to play it as well, Villa Park,” said Hartson. “It is one of my favorite stadiums in the Premier League. The Holte End and everything else.
“I used to play against players like Paul McGrath, Dean Saunders, Shaun Teale, and Dwight Yorke. That was sort of my era when I was at Arsenal and West Ham. Villa Park was always a great place to play. It really was.
“Now that they are in the Champions League. I can’t imagine what the atmosphere is like. Some of the games I watched, Bayern Munich, for instance. The atmosphere was electric, so you put that in with the Celtic traveling away fans. It will be some night. You are just hoping that there is something riding on the game, then you have sentimental stuff. You got John McGinn playing for Aston Villa, a Celtic fan. You have Martin O’Neill, who did so well as a Celtic manager and also a Villa manager. There are little links and talking points.”
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