Mowbray puts Hoops interests first

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 by PA

Tony Mowbray insists helping to restore the good name of Scottish football will be of secondary importance to helping Celtic through their crucial Europa League clash with Hamburg at Parkhead.

Adding to the growing sense that the Scottish game is in crisis, Rangers' Champions League aspirations were left in tatters after an embarrassing 4-1 Group G defeat to Romanian unknowns Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox on Tuesday night.

Celtic have their own worries, as they trail the Ibrox men at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and with their own European hopes still in the balance.

After a 2-1 defeat by Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel on matchhday one, and a 1-1 draw with Rapid Vienna at Celtic Park at the start of the month, Celtic need all three points against the German side if they are to have a realistic chance of qualifying out of their section.

It is with that thought in mind that Hoops boss Mowbray addressed the notion of providing a fillip for the game with a win over Hamburg, who are second behind Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga only on goal difference.

"Do I feel a responsibility for the Scottish game? No," Mowbray said.

"I have a responsibility to our supporters to try to give them a performance that they are happy with and hopefully try to get us some points.

"I am just trying to win a football match for our fans and for the club.

"If it helps the mood around Scottish football then great, but basically we will be out to get some points to try to progress in a European competition."

Midfielder Shaun Maloney was similarly focused when asked if Celtic needed to win to give Scottish football a much-needed boost.

"No I don't think so," he said.

"To be fair it is about our own group at the moment, with the way results have been going.

"It would be obviously great for Scottish football if we did get a win against a really good side though, so fingers crossed."

Mowbray's side have won only two out of seven home games since he took over from Gordon Strachan in the summer and the fans booed them off after the goalless draw against Motherwell at Celtic Park on Saturday.

That disgruntlement appears to have spilled over into the much-maligned European competition with less than 40,000 tickets thought to be sold so far for the visit of the Germans.

The Celtic manager, however, urged the Hoops fans to make their way to Parkhead to roar his players on to what would be a morale-boosting victory. "The supporters have been coming to European occasions for a long time and it's another big game for us," he said.

"It's an occasion where they should come along and hopefully cheer the team on to a great victory with an understanding that we are playing against an accomplished, high-quality team.

"But hopefully, together, we can overcome them as we have in the past against teams with far bigger resources and bigger-name players.

"That is what is going to be needed tomorrow night.

"We are probably going to have to punch above our weight and it's a great challenge for us but hopefully the supporters will come along and play their part."

Hamburg boss Bruno Labbadia has warned his players to expect a hot Parkhead reception when they take to the field.

The German side arrived in Glasgow as favourites to win the matchday three fixture after recovering from a surprise opening game defeat to Rapid Vienna with a win over Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Labbadia, while accepting the difference in strength between the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and the Bundesliga, is anticipating a testing time for his players.

"There is a difference when you compare the Scottish and German leagues," the former Bayern Munich and Hamburg striker said.

"In Scotland there are maybe three or four strong teams whereas in the Bundesliga, if the first played against the 18th, anything can happen.

"But in Scotland, especially with Celtic, you can really see the tradition.

"The pitch is on fire when the teams come out and the atmosphere is wonderful.

"We are two very strong teams, two great teams with traditions and I think it will be a wonderful game."