Stephen McManus: I'll be happy if Celtic can pick up point on Champions League travels

Jul 20 2008 Mark Guidi

STEPHEN McMANUS isn't up for entertaining talk about Celtic reaching the last eight of the Champions League this season for the first time in their history.

The Hoops skipper wants to end the away day hoodoo and his priority is to get a point on the club's travels.

Celts have lost all six Champions League section games on the road under Gordon Strachan and have also won all six at home.

In the past two seasons nine points have been enough to secure a place in the last 16 and Celtic would love to better that achievement in this campaign.

Striker Scott McDonald has suggested the best way to do it would be to top their section and secure a tie against a runner-up, a so-called weaker team.

But McManus wants to take things one step at a time and knows the club will play half a dozen SPL games before their Euro campaign gets under way.

Stephen, 25, said: "I'm not thinking too far ahead. It's nice to have automatic qualification but the start of the tournament is still a long way off.

"We got to the last 16 last season and we'd take that every year.

"People might think it's an easy achievement to make the last 16 but it's not.

"There has been talk that we need to win our group to make it easier to get to the last eight.

"I think we should just concentrate on getting points on the board first of all.

"Trying to get a point or win away from home should be our aim before we start thinking about topping groups.

"In the Champions League the same 13 clubs are in the last 16 year in, year out.

That means there are only three places up for grabs. It is so difficult."

McManus - now Celtic's longest serving player after a decade on the books - jets out to Portugal today for the latest part of the pre-season tour.

Now wearing No.4 instead of No.44 the defender is not taking his place in the team for granted even though others see him as one of Strachan's first picks.

McManus said: "I had a break for about four weeks and it's now good to get back into it.

"I'm glad the games are under way and the start of the new SPL season will be here before we know it.

"I've been given a new squad number but it doesn't matter to me whether I'm number 4 or 99 - the most important thing is to be in the side.

"Just because I'm captain will not see me being a certain starter. When it comes to the manager selecting the side it has no relevance that I'm skipper.

"Everybody is back to square one and all I can do is work my socks off to show the gaffer I deserve to be in the side.

"I enjoyed last season and thought I had a consistent campaign. But I'll let others be the judge of that."

McManus would love to repeat last term's title success and lead the Hoops to four-in-a-row but hopes it won't be such a nervy campaign.

Stephen smiled: "Winning the league was brilliant but I'd prefer to win it with a few games to spare rather than have to wait to the last game!

"However, it gave us an incredible high but it would have been a devastating low had we lost it in the final match.

"The media and most people in Scotland enjoyed the drama of the last day. The whole country seemed to get involved in it, not just Old Firm fans.

"Maybe that had a bit to do with the fact there were so many Scots lads involved on both sides.

"It was great to win the title, to add another medal to the collection. It would be nice to get another one but that is a long way off.

"All we know is that everyone here is looking forward to the season and the squad is in good shape.

"No doubt there will be a few new faces coming in and a few guys will probably move on. It's not about numbers, it's about the quality.

"Georgios Samaras is a good signing. He's quality.

"If the Romanian defender Gabriel Tamas comes in then he also has a good pedigree. He played every minute of his country's games in the Euro Finals.

"It means there is an extra challenge to our defenders to get a place in the team." In the past three years McManus has enjoyed being made skipper of Celtic and is now a regular in the Scotland side.

He still finds it hard to take in and there is one regret that comes with it all.

Stephen explained: "My dad and two papas came to see me in every game I played when I was a kid in the reserves. "From Deveronvale to Forres Mechanics they'd be there.

"Sadly, my dad's dad Charlie passed away two days before my debut for Celtic.

It was on a Sunday and we won 4-0 at Easter Road five seasons ago.

"Manager Martin O'Neill came into the dressing-room and read out the team quickly. I was in the starting line-up and got the fright of my life.

"I wish my papa had been there to see me in that game.

"It has all really taken off since Gordon became manager and if someone had said to me five years ago that all this was going to happen I reckon they would have been taken away and locked up. I probably won't appreciate it all until the day I retire."