Celtic have not had all that many memorable nights in the Champions League as of late, but we are not all that far removed from a time when they were regularly competing with some of the big guns on the continent.
The 00s were an especially exciting time in this regard, with the club taking some big scalps in the both the European Cup and UEFA Cup. While they would not advance beyond the group stage on this occasion, the 2003/04 season was a good example of this dynamic in action.
We got Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton together to look back at some of the more memorable European outings they had during their time together at Parkhead, including during this campaign.
Celtic would be drawn in a group with Bayern Munich, Lyon, and Anderlecht, with the German and French sides being among the finest in Europe during this period.
The Scottish champions would take one point from their two games against Bayern, as well as three from the fixtures against Anderlecht. However, it was a late goal in Lyon that cost them dearly in the competition.
Having beaten Lyon 2-0 at home, they were confident of securing the draw in needed in the return game in France in order to book their place in the next round. They looked on course to do so as well, with goals from Sutton and John Hartson meaning they were on level terms heading into the final few minutes.
However, a late handball from Bobo Balde in the box gave Juninho the chance to win the game from the spot, something he had no issue with. The result meant Celtic were eliminated.
Speaking to Balls, Neil Lennon revealed how he pulled a Roy Keane like tirade in the dressing room after the game.
He also recalled how that Champions League campaign resulted in Liam Miller leaving the club for Manchester United. The midfielder scored two goals during the group stages, including one in front of Alex Ferguson, who had turned up in Glasgow to watch another player only to end up signing the Irishman.
"There was words exchanged. Certainly I did a "Roy Keane" on a couple of them" 🤬
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There definitely were words exchanged, certainly I did a Roy Keane on a couple of them. I was not happy at all, with the goalkeeper...
I was so angry after the game because we had weathered a bit of a storm that night. Sutty (Chris Sutton) got us back to 2-2 and you're thinking 'right, we just need to see it out now'. We didn't, we were normally quite tight at the back.
I had a few words with a couple of them afterwards because I was incandescent. It was a bit opportunity, a huge opportunity actually, that had gone.
In that group, Sutty touched on Liam Miller scoring against Lyon. Vincent Kompany in the first game (against Anderlecht), he was a 17-year old at that time and Alex Ferguson had come to watch him.
Liam Miller played so well that night, I think he scored that night as well, he ended up going to a free transfer to Man United in the summer.
We wanted him to stay because he was such a talented player at the time, but I suppose the lure of Man United was too big for him.
You can watch the chat in full here.
Miller would move to Old Trafford on a free transfer that summer, spending two seasons at the club.
As for Celtic, it would be another three years before they managed to get beyond the group stages in the Champions League, by which time Sutton had left the club and Lennon would be in his final season.
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