Henrik Larsson is convinced about Celtic’s place in the pecking order when he was there in his prime.
Speaking to Callum McFadden on the Football CFB podcast, which is out on Monday, Larsson has a blunt message to anyone who suggests his Celts could even be talked about in the same breath as some so-called bigger clubs down south.
He said: “Where would that team have finished in England? Top four. Without a doubt."
Larsson has never been a man to mince his words but he’s not pulling that opinion out of fresh air. The Parkhead icon points to the famous UEFA Cup run in 2003, when Celtic took on some of the best England had to offer and left them eating their words.
Men against boys was how Graeme Souness described his Blackburn side’s first leg draw in Glasgow. He was very quiet after O’Neill’s side stuffed them in the return south of the border.
Liverpool were meant to swat Celts aside. A Reds outfit that included Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen were tipped to breeze past the Scottish champions but instead got a doing on their own patch.
Larsson took great delight in giving it to the English teams back then, even if his heart still aches at the fact the Hoops didn’t eventually lift the trophy.
He said: “We beat Liverpool, Blackburn, we beat a lot of good teams in that run.
“We played as well – or even better – than a Porto team that went on to win the Champions League so it showed just how strong we were.
“There were about 15 internationals in that squad – important players for their countries. I think a lot of people tend to forget we had a really strong squad. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to win the big final.
“That would have been the icing on the cake for that squad."
Larsson needs an extension to house all his medals and spoils of a sensational career.
League championships, cups, Champions League, Sweden caps, the quiet man from Helsingborg has the lot.
But that UEFA Cup Final still gnaws at him, even today.
Larsson notched two exquisite headers in the showdown with Porto but suffered late agony when Jose Mourinho’s cynical Portuguese side edged them out in extra time after Bobo Balde had seen red.
The Swede can sleep soundly at night after 20 years at the top but still gets the odd nightmare from the past.
Larsson said: “Obviously I thought about it for many years.
“At the same time, you have to get on with it, but winning that medal and being able to share that with the fans and my teammates would have been a dream come true.
“Fate wanted something else. It just shows what a team we had and how good we were."
Larsson says representing Celtic on the big stage in Europe is what makes them a cut above the run-of-the-mill clubs in most leagues. Those were the matches that got his juices flowing and the reputation on a wider scale is the mark of a big club, not money in the bank.
Larsson said: “Representing Celtic was just fantastic. Those are the games you want to perform in, and play well in.
“We did better in the UEFA Cup, which, still to this day, I cannot understand how we lost that game against Porto. We should have won, to be honest."
Celtic in the 'Top four'..?
posted on 7/8/20
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 46 minutes ago
Sutton flopped at Chelsea. Hartson was a bottom quarter striker in the PL. Petrov was a mid-table player. Belgium were rubbish back then. Don't think that side would get top 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Away and sheite in yir hands and applaud yirsel ffs
You don’t half warble some garbage to try and prove a point that is a pile of utter guttershite and nothing else.
posted on 7/8/20
Celtic couldn’t step into the PL and record a top four immediately, but name one who could? The potential for it is there. Look what Celtic do in Europe season after season on a fraction of many other team’s budget. The League we hail from is our only limitation.
With time and funding Celtic could become a force in England. With it the playing field would be levelled, and Celtic could compete financially with the might of the PL£. We have the set-up, fan base and the desire to achieve there. There is no getting around that small fact. Talented Players wanting to join Celtic as a stepping stone into the EPL. Just think how much easier our recruitment would become if Joining Celtic meant joining the PL. We could have kept players like VVD, Dembele, Tierney, Ki and McGeady. These were rising stars in our team, imagine a spine that strong without the risk of a big offer breaking it apart. Think we couldn’t have Forester if we were a Prem team? Think again. The difference has always been financing. Here in the SPFL we must sell our stars or wither.
The 2003 cup run was by far and away the strongest Celtic squad I’ve witnessed and that’s what Celtic with consistent funding could build. Rodgers looked to be doing something similar at his start. Others might be able to field an equal quality team, but few teams could deliver the passion and noise our support can bring home and away. Our 12th man.
I realise a lot has changed since 2003 and some of our then players didn’t hit the same heights when leaving our club. What was special about MoN’s team was how they played together. It was not a selection of stars. It was a team put together to play a certain system and they did it with fervour and class. That team could get the job done.
posted on 7/8/20
There is a decent chance that team could have won the premier league. They were s bunch of winners and had Europe's best striker at the time at his peak
posted on 7/8/20
When did mols play for celtic 😂
posted on 7/8/20
comment by puyolsnohadahaircut (U6410)
posted 56 minutes ago
When did mols play for celtic 😂
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mols, pfft, poor man`s Negri. Oh wait, how do you play this game again?
posted on 7/8/20
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 4 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 46 minutes ago
Sutton flopped at Chelsea. Hartson was a bottom quarter striker in the PL. Petrov was a mid-table player. Belgium were rubbish back then. Don't think that side would get top 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Away and sheite in yir hands and applaud yirsel ffs
You don’t half warble some garbage to try and prove a point that is a pile of utter guttershite and nothing else.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In English?
posted on 7/8/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/8/20
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 45 minutes ago
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 4 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 46 minutes ago
Sutton flopped at Chelsea. Hartson was a bottom quarter striker in the PL. Petrov was a mid-table player. Belgium were rubbish back then. Don't think that side would get top 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Away and sheite in yir hands and applaud yirsel ffs
You don’t half warble some garbage to try and prove a point that is a pile of utter guttershite and nothing else.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In English?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He called you a prik.
posted on 7/8/20
comment by PointyBirds (U21890)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 45 minutes ago
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 4 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 46 minutes ago
Sutton flopped at Chelsea. Hartson was a bottom quarter striker in the PL. Petrov was a mid-table player. Belgium were rubbish back then. Don't think that side would get top 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Away and sheite in yir hands and applaud yirsel ffs
You don’t half warble some garbage to try and prove a point that is a pile of utter guttershite and nothing else.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In English?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He called you a prik.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh!
I'd say diddy, he's calling you a diddy
posted on 7/8/20
comment by Hector (U3606)
posted 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by PointyBirds (U21890)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 45 minutes ago
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 4 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 46 minutes ago
Sutton flopped at Chelsea. Hartson was a bottom quarter striker in the PL. Petrov was a mid-table player. Belgium were rubbish back then. Don't think that side would get top 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Away and sheite in yir hands and applaud yirsel ffs
You don’t half warble some garbage to try and prove a point that is a pile of utter guttershite and nothing else.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In English?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He called you a prik.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh!
I'd say diddy, he's calling you a diddy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Doubt it.
Diddies get a ride.