Closer to home – but a match too far?

The moans about Celtic’s pre-season travels are still ringing in our ears; the memory of the cold fish showing in Japan still raw. But tonight’s game against Chelsea may yet prove to eclipse the rest with regard to negative impact.

Before Celtic take on the as yet unbeaten St Mirren at Celtic Park, the players must face a side set to include Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko, Salomon Kalou and Mikel John Obi in their team. That, given the paucity of fringe players apparently able to step up to first team level, can only suggest that Celtic could well be onto a very public hiding at Stamford Bridge. In fact, in the great tradition of making stupid predictions that are there to be thrown back at you, I am expect the score to be around 4-0 to the homes side. And it need hardly be stated that such a reverse would knock morale and Celtic’s standing as a club.

Worse, though, is the core of right wing extremists who have long used Chelsea as a means of facilitating their desire to indulge in violence – thinking it all the better if there is a racist side to their attacks. This is something of which the shakers and movers at Celtic Park should be all too aware.

They should be aware too that a club has a responsibility to all fans whenever they are asked to follow the team and that means not undertaking high-risk matches unnecessarily. Should any trouble arise the reputation of Celtic fans ought to be a small consideration next to their safety but perhaps the damage to “the brand” is more worrying to some.

What proportion of the gates receipts would compensate for that?

Finally, Celtic have again been lauded by the Chelsea manager and probably the best centre back in the world, John Terry. Celtic fans still retain grudges over the diving and time-wasting of Mourinho’s Porto side in the Seville UEFA Cup final but it is time to set that aside.

Celtic were indeed “cheated” in Porto – but by a better side. And in truth the major wounds were inflicted by players who made serious errors, not least getting sent off. Time to let the old wounds heal.