Larsson wary of plucky Czechs

By Alex Eeles

Although the disappointment of their last-gasp exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Olympique Lyonnais in December still haunts Celtic FC, leading goalscorer Henrik Larsson insists the team will be raring to go when they line up against FK Teplice in the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

High regard
The 32-year-old admits he would have loved to have finished his last season at the club with an extended run in Europe's premier competition. However, he is in no doubt about the importance of the UEFA Cup, claiming the competition often fails to receive the recognition it deserves.

Bitter disappointment
"I was bitterly disappointed to be knocked out of the tournament and at first you don't think that the UEFA Cup is any consolation," he told uefa.com. "But that's changed now. The UEFA Cup isn't the Champions League but it's still a very big tournament with plenty of great sides like [FC] Barcelona and Liverpool [FC]."

Runners-up
As last year's beaten finalists, Celtic will go into the tie against Czech opponents as clear favourites, but Larsson is quick to dismiss claims that the Scottish side are guaranteed a place in the fourth round. "Obviously after our run last year people will be expecting a lot from us and many people probably don't rate Teplice that highly," he said. "They're not a team with a long history in Europe and they may be struggling in the Czech League at the moment, but they have some big scalps under their belts."

Giant killers
Not least Larsson's former club, 2001/02 UEFA Cup winners Feyenoord, whom Teplice dispatched in round two thanks largely to a 2-0 victory in Rotterdam. The former Swedish international said: "You don't go there and come away with such a conclusive win unless you have some real strength in your side."

Record run
Celtic, however, go into the match on the back of an astonishing run in Scotland which has seen them win all of their last 24 league games. Naturally, confidence at Celtic Park is sky-high but Larsson says that the team will not be taking anything for granted. "We have had a great run of results but that is in the league," he said. "Now we're playing in Europe where there is a totally different approach to the game. We are under no illusions that it will be tough and playing the first match at home puts a bit more pressure on."

Lennon suspended
The absence of influential midfield player Neil Lennon, who is suspended for two games after being charged with improper conduct following the defeat by Lyon, will only raise that pressure, but Larsson is confident the squad has sufficient strength in depth to cope. "We are bound to miss Neil Lennon," he said. "But it is also a great opportunity for the player who comes in to fill that position. There is a lot of pride in pulling on the green-and-white hoops so you know the boys who step in will give it their all."

European atmosphere
So can the team go one better than last year and take the UEFA Cup trophy back to Glasgow? Larsson thinks so but for the moment he is not looking beyond Thursday's match with Teplice. "We know we do have an opportunity to make an impression in this competition," he admitted. "But for now, I'm just looking forward to another big European night at Celtic Park on Thursday."

Henrik Larsson's personal website is at www.icons.com