I remember the UEFA Cup Final. With absolutely fond memories of watching my first ever European Final with family and friends.
From the highs of watching Henrik Larsson scoring the two equalising goals to the heartache of watching Derlei’s 115th minute pounce on a Rab Douglas save hit the back of the net, ending the European dream of bringing the trophy back to Paradise.
With Celtic ready to return to Seville for their Europa League tie with Real Betis tomorrow night, former Celtic striker, John Hartson, was recalling that famous night on The Go Radio Football Show.
Hartson missed the game due to a back injury and said it was a bit of a blur but does recall former Celtic gaffer Martin O’Neill’s reactions to Jose Mourinho’s gamesmanship that night, “And it was a great night. I was over there with my family and my parents in the crowd. When mum and dad came over as well, and it is a bit of a blur to me really.
“I couldn’t really enjoy it because I wanted to play. I scored a few goals on the way to helping the lads get there.
“And I was just devastated. As devastated as a footballer could ever be. I wanted to be out there, I wanted to be in amongst the battle with the boys but it wasn’t to be. And unfortunately, we got beat.
“I think Henrik scored his 199th and 200th goals that night for the club. Jose Mourinho was a disgrace. All evening on the touchline he was telling his players to stay down, dive, kill the time.
“And I remember Martin, if it had been a boxing match then Martin would have got on top of him. Absolutely raging with Jose Mourinho.
“But it was disappointing night overall, because we had such a fantastic side as well. A team full of internationals. It would have been a wonderful moment if we could have brought a European trophy back to the club on the back of that team.
“But it wasn’t to be.”
The memory of the Porto teams tactics that night leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of millions of Celtic fans
Porto were a disgrace to football mourinho should be a shamed of himself even still to this day at least celtic can hold there heads up high we were robbed that night Porto and mourinho should be a shamed of themselves HH