Leigh Griffiths feared that he had walked into the remake of a horror show titled Malmo.
At half time he sat happily in the dressing room reflecting on two epic goals that had put Celtic 3-0 up on Hapoel Beer Sheva. In the driving seat with one foot in the draw for the group phase.
Fifteen minutes into the second half there was despair around Celtic Park as the Israeli’s struck twice prompting flashbacks to the Jo Inge Berget inspired horror show from Malmo.
No one did more for Celtic against the Swedes than Griffiths but in that occasion two goals wasn’t enough as the hoops tumbled into a disastrous Europa League hangover.
After the emotion and drama of last night the former Hibs striker said: “We’re three up at half time and couldn’t have dreamt of a better start. Then for ten or 15 minutes we were very sloppy and gave away two goals.
“We showed great character and resilience to respond with two more goals and we got the result in the end. I was fearing a repeat of Malmo.
“I’m sure everybody was the exact same, losing two goals again. They would’ve been thinking, ‘It’s going to happen again’ but the manager’s got that aura about him for us to keep going.
“And we scored two extra goals and could’ve even have scored more in the end.”
Griffiths added: “We could’ve crumbled and I think a year ago we would have.
“Losing two goals of that magnitude, we could’ve crumbled and they probably would have got an equaliser but the boys showed great character to bounce back and keep going.
“The manager just wants us to keep going, we feel really fit and you can see that. The boys were running all over the park for 90 minutes, the lads never stopped and that’s why we could have scored even more.
“We had to keep going, stick together, that’s what great teams do. That belief comes from the manager. He has instilled that in us from day one. If we concede a goal he doesn’t want us to let the heads go down. He wants us to keep going and get extra goals, and we did that.”
CLICK HERE for highlights of Celtic 5-2 Hapoel
CLICK HERE for amazing GALLERY from Celtic’s 5-2 win
CLICK HERE for Hartson and Lineker pals again after Celtic pies fall out.
