McGeady relishes bhoys visit

Aiden McGeady can’t wait to face upto Charlie Mulgrew in Champions League action.

At the age of 12 the two bhoys both played in the same Celtic side before their careers took off in different directions.

McGeady celebrated Celtic’s title success from his adopted home in Moscow and revealed in an interview on the Spartak Moscow website that he had a feeling that the Champions League draw would see the only two clubs that he’s played for drawn together.

SPARTAK MOSCOW WEBSITE: Did you have a hunch that we’d be drawn against Celtic?

AIDEN MCGEADY: I told players in the dressing room after the Fenerbache match that I expected to be drawn with Celtic.

SMW: How did you react to the draw?

AM: I was pleasantly shocked because it was long odds that we’d be drawn together. We could have got any team from the fourth seeds then Celtic dropped out. I’m glad that I’ve got the chance to play against my former club. I was at Celtic from the age of 12 and grew up at the club, going back to play at Celtic Park will be a great experience.

SMW: When did you last visit Celtic Park?

AM: Last Christmas, December 28 I watched Celtic beat Rangers 1-0 in the derby

SMW: When did you last visit Glasgow?

AM: At the beginning of September, after the international with Kazakhstan the Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni allowed me a day off so I flew from London to Glasgow. I took the chance the celebrate my daughter Kaya’s birthday with my family then returned to London

SMW: Who contacted you after the draw was made?

AM: There were a lot of text messages from Glasgow! The first phone call was from Charlie Mulgrew who I’ve known from the age of 12. He left to go to other clubs then returned just as I was moving to Spartak. All through that time we kept in touch and that’s continued since the draw was made.

SMW: Are you able to follow Celtic from Moscow?

AM: If possible I try not to miss the matches, watching them on tv or online

SMW: What are the current Celtic team like?

AM: They are a young team looking to develop and will give Spartak a tough game, they’ll fight hard for the full match but in front of our fans in the Luzinski we can be successful

SMW: Which Celtic players should we look out for?

AM: It’s hard to singel out any individual. I’d have to mention Mulgrew who was Scotland’s Player of the Year last season, James Forrest is very active on the right and O know that Gary Hooper is very dangerous and scores goals.

SMW: Is this a new Celtic team to the one you played in?

AM: Yes, Scott Brown is the only midfielder that I played with

SMW: Is the absence of Rangers due to not paying HMRC making the SPL easier for Celtic?

AM:Of course it’s an unusual situation, Celtic are developing in the right direction and getting the chance to play in the Champions League. Naturally when Rangers were in the SPL it was stronger but this won’t effect Celtic. The hoops will develop naturally without Rangers. Celtic fans aren’t bothered by it and Rangers fans wouldn’t worry if it happened the other way.

SMW: What are your memories of Celtic v Spartak in 2007?

AM: Very positive, especially from the game at Celtic Park. Many Celtic fans rate it as one of the most spectacular European games that they’ve seen. The math had everything, missed penalties, extra-time and a shoot-out that Celtic won although Spartak played very well, that’s when I realised how strong the Russian league is.

SMW: Who do you think will qualify from the Champions League group?

AM: Barcelona are the favourites with the three other clubs fighting for second place, I believe that we have a strong chance of going through. In the past people didn’t expect much from us in the Champions League however we’ve proved ourselves against Fenerbache and Barcelona.

The game against Barcelona has given the players and fans more confidence and I feel that we can make it through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

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