Celtic’s Next Gen hopes still alive despite defeat
On Wednesday night Celtic lost 2-1 away to Sporting Lisbon leaving them three points behind Aston Villa with one game to play.
Villa beat Celtic 4-3 in the head-to-head meetings between the teams but the Next Gen rule is that goal difference is the decider when teams finish level on points rather than the head-to-head results.
Celtic travel to PSV Eindhoven next week when Villa fly to Lisbon with three teams capable of joining Sporting in the next stage.
“We asked one of the competition representatives how they decided on teams level on points and he said that he thought it was on goal difference,” John Kennedy explained.
“He double checked and word came back that it was down to goal difference so we are still in with a shout of going through to the next stage.
“It was disappointing to lose to Sporting but we’re still in the competition and want to go over to PSV and give a good performance.
“We weren’t at our best for the first 20 minutes in Lisbon and that left us a lot to do. Players have to have belief in themselves and their team-mates to compete at this level.
“If you lack a bit of belief you’ll get punished. We never started the game properly but after going 2-0 down we showed great character to get back into the game, scored a goal and created a few chances to equalise.
“It’s good that we now have a cup tie with Hibs and then another Next Gen match with PSV. The players have to realise that they can compete at that level and show their ability no matter who the opposition are.”
Last season Celtic finished in third place despite picking up nine points. Going into the final group match Villa are on seven points, PSV Eindhoven 6 and Celtic on 4.
On Sunday Celtic face Hibs at Easter Road in the fourth round of the SFA Youth Cup, kick-off 3pm.
CELTIC: Daniels; Fisher, Fraser, Findlay, Chalmers; Miller, Kidd (Lindsay 78), McGeouch; Herron (George 71), Atajic (Johnstone 71), P Twardzik
Not Used: Hart, McNally, O´Connell, McManus
GOAL KIDD
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