Welcome to Hell. It’s been some time since Celtic could say that to their visitors in the Champions League.
The win over Feyenoord last season that rounded off another campaign in Europe’s elite competition was a welcome one, albeit something of a token one in material terms as their chances of progression to the knockout stage were already over before the game kicked off.
Nevertheless, it was significant in at least one regard as it was Celtic’s first home triumph on the grandest stage in club football since a triumph over Ajax back in 2013.
In the behind-the-scenes documentary released by the club last week, Brendan Rodgers told his players in a dressing room huddle that the famous old stadium may be paradise for those of a Celtic persuasion, but it had to become hell for everyone else, as it once used to be.
In recent years, superstars from the likes of Real Madrid have rolled up and paid lip service to the incredible atmosphere generated by the supporters before making light of it on the pitch.
The current Celtic team though are hoping that by making it as inhospitable as possible this evening for Slovan Bratislava - who with the greatest of respect, are no Real Madrid - in every regard, they can spook the unfancied Slovakians.
If Celtic are to have any chances of progression to the play-off round for the knockout stage, which is their minimum aim, then the matches at Celtic Park such as the one this evening will be critical, and midfielder Paulo Bernardo is hoping to fulfil his manager’s demand to give their opponents hell in Glasgow’s East End.
“It's always important that teams don't feel comfortable playing away,” Bernardo said.
“Playing at home has to be an advantage for us. I think that was the message that the coach wanted to say to us because if we play well and we do our best in the game, the fans will be with us.
“In turn, if the fans are with us, Paradise will be hell for them. I think it's a great message.
“We always try to push the fans with us because it's always easier if the fans are with us and they don't boo us. It's better for us that we are all together and they can push us to the victory.
“For sure [it will be intimidating for Bratislava]. We are playing at home, our first game. We will try our best to win and make this stadium hell for them.”
Bernardo does of course have valuable experience in the Champions League under his belt already, and not only with Celtic.
He made his debut for Benfica off the bench as a 19-year-old away to German giants Bayern Munich, so there is little that will faze him about taking on Slovan this evening.
“I wasn't expecting to play that game, but the coach put me on the pitch and I tried to do my best, and it was a good moment for me,” he said.
“We lost but it was a very good step in my career and a debut in the Allianz Arena, that’s always nice.
“It's a different level - I dream about [getting to that level] and I hope I can achieve it too. (Robert) Lewandowski was probably the biggest star.”
Read more:
-
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava: TV channel, live stream & kick-off
-
Celtic 2 Hearts 0: Engels shines as VAR calls favour Celtic in win over Hearts
Being thrown in at the deep end of this competition seems to have been a feature for Bernardo, who made his Celtic Champions League bow as a substitute in an understrength line-up that fell to Feyenoord away from home last term, before being flung into the heat of the battle against Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park after just seven minutes as Reo Hatate succumbed to injury.
As at the Allianz Arena a couple of years prior, he puffed his chest out and met the challenge head on, and it was an evening that perhaps gave the Celtic support their first real glimpse of the player they had on their hands.
“It was similar [to the night in Munich],” he said.
“We know that the games are always difficult in the Champions League. But it's an experience, and we can see the other guys and we can learn things too from that. I'm looking forward to doing that again.
“These are probably the most difficult games that we have and I think these are the best games to show up to. I always try to be the best I can, but on this stage and at another level, if you do the things well, you're probably a little bit better recognised.
“It was really important for me that I could have some minutes in those games. It really helped me develop and it was a great experience too.
“It wasn't just an experience, it was good for my development.”
Bernardo is of course far from guaranteed a starting place tonight, given the arrival of club record signing Arne Engels and the strength in depth that Celtic now have in the midfield.
He will be ready once again though to contribute in whatever capacity is required of him, and when asked if the quality manager Rodgers now has in reserve could be critical to their chances of success in the competition, he said: “Yes, but I think we have to show up in all the games.
“If you don't show up in the league, you won't play in the Champions League. We always have to respect the opponents and to do the best we can. If we do these things well, you have more opportunities to play.
“I always dreamed about this competition and I'm here to experience and to live that.”
