Vennegoor of Hesselink hopes for Celtic-PSV clash
By tvbp1985
@tvbp1985 (999)
China
November 22, 2006 6:49pm CST
Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink is hoping for a Champions League knockout clash with his old club PSV Eindhoven after the Glasgow side reached the last 16 for the first time.
Celtic, European Cup winners in 1967, celebrated their qualification on Tuesday night after a memorable 1-0 win over Manchester United in Group F.
"I hope we meet them (PSV) in the quarter-final or semi-final," said Vennegoor of Hesselink. "It's nice that we are in the knockout stages, every team will be a big team so it's a great achievement.
"I came here to play Champions League. I had played in the quarters and semis before and it's a great thing.
"Now we have to see what team we get, but first we have to play against Copenhagen (on Dec. 6) and try and play well there."
Celtic have lost just one of 12 Champions League home games -- to Barcelona -- and Vennegoor of Hesselink says they are confident of beating anyone on their own Celtic Park ground.
"I think so because although we played badly in the first half, we didn't concede a goal," he said. "So if we start to play well then it can only get better. It's a great result.
"It doesn't matter how you beat Manchester United, they are a world class team."
Celtic secured the win with a fabulous 30-metre free kick from Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura just nine minutes from the end.
But they had to survive a late penalty scare when Louis Saha saw his spot kick turned away by Artur Boruc in the final minute.
"In the second half we played a little bit better and got a smashing goal from Nakamura," said Vennegoor of Hesselink.
"I was also stunned by the penalty, you work so hard to get a goal and then lose a penalty. The referee gives it so you have to accept it, but it was a great save by Artur which makes it all the sweeter."
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