Celtic’s defeat in Gibraltar was nothing compared to my Artmedia nightmare, says Stiliyan Petrov

Petrov has made a return to first team football with Aston Villa

IF the current Celtic squad display only a tiny fraction of Stiliyan Petrov’s fighting spirit, they will be set for a long run in the Champions League this season.

The former Hoops midfielder turned out for Aston Villa last weekend, four years after being diagnosed with leukaemia, and is on course to make a comeback in the professional game aged 37.

His journey back has had many troughs. And the Bulgarian’s time at Celtic Park was never at a lower ebb than the night Gordon Strachan suffered the same fate as befell Brendan Rodgers in midweek in his first competitive game as Celtic manager.

For Lincoln Red Imps, read Artmedia Bratislava.

But Petrov insists the angered Celtic support should be comforted by the fact the current side haven’t been left with a mountain to climb.

He speaks from experience. He was part of the team that was humiliated 5-0 in Bratislava 11 years ago.

That was also a Champions League qualifier, and despite winning the return leg 4-0, Celtic still crashed out. But they bounced back from that blow to win the league title, the first of three Strachan won in his four years as gaffer.

Petrov would be fearful if the Parkhead players had another five-goal deficit to overcome but he is confident that with just two goals required they will emerge victorious with a bit to spare on Wednesday night.

Stilian Petrov (left) and Bobo Balde cut forlorn figures as Celtic crash out to Artmedia (SNS Group)

Petrov told The Sunday Post: “As much as I’d like to erase it completely from my mind, I will never forget that night in Bratislava.

“We were in a state of shock at full-time. Absolutely stunned. We just didn’t see it coming.

“I remember the journey home and thinking to myself: ‘Did that really just happen?’.

“Yes, there was a change of manager. It takes time for the new man in charge to fully get across what he wants from players and there is the tactical side.

“But that still didn’t leave any of us with any valid reasons for that defeat.

“We still had top players such as Neil Lennon, Chris Sutton and Alan Thompson at the club. So, really, we should have won the tie.

“We put up a really good fight in the second leg, but we had given ourselves far too much to do.

“I think some people have been making comparisons about the scale of the defeat for the current team on Tuesday night. I can understand that because it’s a game you would never expect Celtic to lose.

“However, I think the result the other night will be just a blip for Brendan Rodgers and the squad.

“It’s important to keep things in perspective and be mindful that the team is only one goal down. It’s a different situation from 2005.

“If the defeat had been by a few goals, then there would be serious cause for concern, but that’s not the case.

“There will be a determination from Brendan and the players to put on a good performance and win the game by a few goals at home in midweek.

“Listen, the bottom line is that they get through to the next round of qualifiers, and then take it from there. I have complete faith in Brendan and the players to win the tie.”

Petrov knows the Celtic support will play a vital role in midweek and for the rest of the qualifiers should Celtic go all the way to the final knockout tie for the £17 million jackpot.

As a man who enjoyed the high times under Martin O’Neill, he is delighted to see that the Hoops fans will be back at Parkhead in serious numbers this season to get the crowds back up to above 50,000.

He said: “I was fortunate enough to play for Celtic for seven years, and the feeling of playing in front of a packed Parkhead was always a highlight.

“The Celtic supporters generate an incredible atmosphere and it will be such an advantage this season to have that back again.

“I’m sure Brendan and the new signings will be blown away by it all.

“It’s thrilling and the feelings I felt back then when I played for the club will never leave me. It’s a special place.

“The supporters are well aware of the role they have in the future.

“I’ve no doubt they’ll rise to the challenge and it’s up to the management and players to produce for them.

“The new season offers up so much excitement for a number of reasons and I hope that Celtic qualify for the Champions League and go on to clinch six league titles on the trot.

“There will be a challenge to them on so many fronts, in all competitions, and they have to rise and show their qualities.”

Rodgers will look to improve his squad in the coming weeks and he knows the importance of getting players in as quickly as possible to get them integrated.

Petrov – who played for Aston Villa in their pre-season tour of Austria – said: “During every close season, a manager looks to strengthen his squad. They have a list of targets and they try to get as many of the best ones in as they can.

“But I have to say that is easier said than done, particularly for Scottish clubs.

“You just have to look at the money that is floating around down south, and there are dozens of players now moving from club to club for more than
£30 million and nobody bats an eyelid at the size of the fee.

“The amount of money in the game is incredible, and when you have Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte all in at new clubs as managers, then it only ups the ante.

“However, I’m sure that Celtic will add to their squad and they will be working tirelessly behind the scenes.

“The signing of Moussa Dembele is very impressive. He is a fine striker and will score many goals for the club.

“I’m sure he’d love to start scoring competitively on Wednesday night – and I think he will.”

Footballer Stiliyan Petrov owes his life to his wife