Joe Ledley still stunned by Celtic's conquest of Barcelona

 

Ronnie Esplin,Paul Ward
Thursday 08 November 2012 17:59 GMT
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Celtic players surround Victor Wanyama after he scored the opening goal
Celtic players surround Victor Wanyama after he scored the opening goal (Getty Images)

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Joe Ledley was today still struggling to take in Celtic's historic Champions league win over Barcelona even after watching it on television.

The Wales midfielder helped the Hoops stun the Catalan giants with an unlikely 2-1 victory in front of almost 60,000 fans at Parkhead last night with momentous goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt making Lionel Messi's late counter a consolation.

With two Group G games remaining away to Benfica and home to Spartak Moscow, Neil Lennon's men are on seven points, two behind leaders Barca.

The Scottish champions will guarantee themselves a place in the last 16 with a fixture to spare if they beat Benfica in Lisbon later in the month and the Nou Camp side beat Spartak Moscow.

Speaking at the Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final draw in Edinburgh, where Celtic were paired with St Mirren, Ledley said: "I went home after the game and sat with the family and it didn't really sink in.

"I watched it on television but you still can't believe that we have done it, it will take a couple of days, but it was a fantastic achievement.

"Obviously we don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves but not many people would have thought we would have been in this position but we are and we deserve to be.

"Realistically we would probably have thought we would have got no points (from Barca) but what we achieved was fantastic.

"We had to believe after the first game against them in Spain (when we lost 2-1) and we took that form into the game last night.

"But there is still a long way to go.

"We still have two games to go and anything can happen but we are in a good position and hopefully we can continue that form."

Celtic striker Miku insists his summer move to Parkhead was vindicated by a result that is still reverberating around Europe.

The Venezuela international, signed on a year's loan from Spanish side Getafe, has taken his time to adapt to life in Scotland but he scored his first goal for the Hoops in the 2-2 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice at the weekend.

"Too many people in Spain thought my transfer to Scotland was a backwards step but I don't think so," he said.

"It's not back, it's a step in the same direction.

"People in Spain will respect football in Scotland more now because Barcelona is probably the best team in history but Celtic beat them in the Champions League.

"Hopefully we can go to the next round and that would be good for Scottish football.

"It's a different league and country and I had two months when it was difficult because of the weather, the food and my wife doesn't speak good English and my baby was sick, but now I am good, I am enjoying it and the manager speaks to me a lot.

"He told me football here is powerful and strong so I had to prepare my body and train hard.

"This weekend I scored a goal and last night I played all of the game so I feel very good.

"It is a big moment for me, very enjoyable, and the team are working hard.

"We need to rest then think of the next game (against St Johnstone) on Sunday."

PA

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