Loan Celt Jos Hooiveld is dreaming of a Champions League date with Chelsea.
The Dutchman moved on loan to FC Copenhagen during the week with his new side an amazing 19 points clear at the top of the Danish league.
Hooiveld is hoping to make his debut on Monday against Velje but it’s the games against Chelsea that is causing the most interest in the Danish capital.
Despite playing for Celtic against Sporting Braga in the same competition Copenhagen are allowed to add one player to their 25 man Champions League squad who has played in a qualifier.
“A month ago, I’d never have dreamed that I could be in line to play against Chelsea in the Champions League but what an occasion it will be if it happens,” the Dutchman told The Sun.
“I didn’t know I was eligible to play in the Champions League but it’s not up to me. It’s up to Copenhagen whether or not they feel I’m ready to be part of their 25.
“If they do then I’ll be ready, if not then I’ll accept it because I’ve only just come to the club.
“The most important thing for me is to come here and play. I’m a footballer and I don’t like getting paid to do nothing. I want to play every week and that was the first feeling when I was told I could go to Denmark.
“Then I looked at the league table and thought to myself ‘Oh, that’s great’. It’s not often you go to a club that is so dominant. They are having an incredible season and if I can come in and play a part in that it will be amazing.
“Who knows? I could be at two title winning parties this season. We have to be really focused at Copenhagen and see out the job but they are obviously in a very strong position.”
[poll id= “27”]
Despite enduring a year in Scotland that would have most folk wary of setting foot in the country again Hooiveld is determined to make his mark at Celtic.
A hamstring injury in the nightmare defeat at Kilmarnock last February ended his season.
The new season, a new manager and two European exits piled the pressure on before the Thomas Rogne-Daniel Majstorovic emerged as Neil Lennon’s favoured partnership.
Despite his move to Denmark Hooiveld has strong ties to Celtic and will be watching every move as the battle for the SPL title heats up.
He added: “I think Celtic will win the title as I believe they have a stronger squad than Rangers.
“That’s no slight on Rangers. They have great players but Celtic’s financial position is more favourable and with players coming back from injury they can only get stronger.
“I’d love nothing more than to win the league in Denmark and come back to Glasgow to celebrate Celtic’s success with my friends in Scotland.”
Looking back at his brief Celtic career he added: “You could say the injury affected me last year but I wouldn’t. I don’t want to make excuses.
“For one reason or another I didn’t show my best to Celtic. My best game was my debut (at Hamilton) I was pumped up, full of confidence and determined to make an impact but after that it didn’t work.
“I didn’t live up to the expectations so in coming to Copenhagen I want to hit the form that made Celtic want me.
“If I can do that the world will open up for me again and who knows what will happen?
“It’s sad to leave Celtic for the moment. I love it there. They are such an incredible club, with passionate fans and amazing people in the dressing room.
“I have so many friends there and I’ll take them wherever I go as keeping friends in my life enriches me.
“So has going to Celtic. You really have to be a part of that fantastic club to know why it’s so special. And no matter what happens I’ll never regret going there.”
A Korean view on South Korea v Iran
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
