WHEN Luis Palma steps out for Celtic in the Champions League, he isn’t only representing his club, his family or even his extended network of friends. He is carrying the hopes of an entire nation.
As the sole Honduran operating in the world’s premier club competition, Palma’s achievements are a great source of pride back home in central America, where Celtic games are now major events, particularly on the European stage.
The 23-year-old has made an impressive impact for Celtic since his arrival in the summer, and he might already have two goals in his three Champions League games to date had it not been for a slight touch on the ball from teammate Daizen Maeda before he rifled home against Lazio.
His blistering strike against Atletico Madrid was ample compensation for that disallowed goal. Though ironically, one of the most famous footballer to come from his homeland, the late Atletico hero Jose Cardona - who helped Los Colchoneros to a La Liga title and a Copa del Generalisimo (now known as the Copa Del Rey) in the 1960s – may not have approved quite so much.
The sheen may have been taken off that strike for Palma just a little by Alvaro Morata’s subsequent equaliser, but nothing could diminish the pride that the Honduran people have in their latest standard bearer in European football.
He is desperate to pay them back for that support by helping Celtic to a famous result in Madrid this week when the Scottish champions travel to face Diego Simeone’s star-studded side once more.
“It means a lot to me for my career and especially for my nation,” Palma said.
“Not a lot of players from my country have played in the Champions League or will have the opportunity to play in the competition.
“It means a lot for my country as well. So, I want to take every opportunity to score. I am the only player at this moment from my country to be playing in the Champions League. Some players from Atletico Madrid many years ago were from Honduras.
“It’s really crazy [the reaction from back home], everyone is happy and that’s my motivation. To keep working hard and play for the national team.
“I got a lot of messages from my friends and family who stay close to me and that makes it really motivating to me to play.”
After being stung by that delayed VAR call ruling out his goal against Lazio, Palma might have been forgiven for curtailing his celebrations a little when the ball kissed Jan Oblak’s far post and clattered into the net to put Celtic ahead for the second time against Atletico.
But so rare are such moments, he wasn’t about to let Big Brother spoil it for him, even if he was relieved to see the goal eventually stand on that occasion. And in a nice twist, it was Maeda who provided the assist.
“I didn’t doubt it,” he said.
“It was an important game for the team and even for my nation, for my family, it was so good to score. It was just a shame that we couldn’t get the win.
“It was hard to take [when the goal against Lazio was ruled out]. However, I scored against Atletico Madrid, so I am glad to have that goal against them. I will just keep working hard to get another goal for the team.
“In reality it is just a memory. Things pass and I am just concentrating on the next game coming up.
“Every game in the Champions League is very difficult and it is the same against Atletico Madrid.
“We will just work as hard as we can to do even better than we did in the last game.
“We are all playing here because we are the big clubs who have won. We have got the one point so let’s see how it goes from here.
“Because they are at home, they are with their fans, they will have to deal with the pressure of being obliged to win and to get the result.
“For us it is important to play intelligently and get some points away from home.”
In general terms, Palma is enjoying life in Glasgow so far, settling in quickly to his surroundings both on and off the pitch.
“The sun hides quite quickly, that is the only thing,” he said, that familiar complaint of foreign players coming to Scotland.
“It is very cold! I am happy to be here, I like the city. Now my partner is coming over. I can concentrate on the football, the teamwork.”
Manager Brendan Rodgers has played his part in Palma’s acclimatisation too, putting his language skills to good use.
“The manager has been speaking to me in Spanish,” he said.
“He has been studying Spanish. I also have to study my English. It is going not so bad.
“The manager has been very good overall. He takes care of me, and he wants to improve me.
“So obviously I am listening to him, and I am working every day to get better.”
