We can still battle through to last 16, vows Celtic hitman Hesselink

Oct 5 2008 By Gavin Berry

CELTIC hitman Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink insists the Hoops can keep their Champions League dream alive by hitting Manchester United on the break.

Gordon Strachan's side face an uphill struggle to reach the last 16 after last week's defeat in Villarreal left them with just one point from their first two group games.

But the Dutch striker believes they can still go through in second place and reckons Celts can get their campaign back on track with a shock win at Old Trafford on October 21.

Vennegoor of Hesselink scored the opener for Celtic on his last trip to the Theatre of Dreams but United went on to win a thrilling game 3-2.

That result was no disgrace and the former PSV star claims United's attacking style will give the Hoops chances to hurt the European champions on the counter-attack.

Recalling that match in September 2006, the Dutchman said: "My first Champions League game for Celtic was at Old Trafford and - even though we lost - it's still a nice memory.

"I scored and we played well that night. Since then we haven't been at our best away from home in Europe but the Villarreal game was encouraging.

"We believe we can get a point at Old Trafford this time and maybe we can make it three.

"We scored twice on our last trip there so it shows we will get chances.

"Maybe it suits us to play against attacking teams. Villarreal came at us on Tuesday but we managed to cause them some problems. The same can happen in Manchester.

"United are a really good team but because of the way they play they also give space away. It's up to us to take advantage of that.

"We can still qualify in second place, of course we can.

"It's not going to be easy because we haven't won either of our first two matches but we have four games left.

We have confidence in ourselves and believe we can do something in the group."

Georgios Samaras was handed the lone-striker's role in Villarreal ahead of Vennegoor of Hesselink.

That was a blow for the 29-year-old after he netted twice against Aberdeen just four days earlier to seal a vital SPL win.

Missing out on a starting slot in Spain has only fuelled his desire to play at Old Trafford.

But despite the defeat few would have argued with Strachan's line-up.

Celtic bravely held out before Marcos Senna's second-half free-kick earned the La Liga side victory.

And the Hoops made good chances throughout the 90 minutes with Samaras, Scott McDonald and Stephen McManus all going close.

Vennegoor of Hesselink admitted the defeat wasn't as hard to take as other losses on the road in Europe.

But he wants to see the kind of chances they created in Spain taken at Old Trafford - and that's where the Dutchman could come in.

He said: "We played well on Tuesday but once again didn't get anything. It's harsh but we have to deal with it.

"We can take a lot from the way we played and the number of chances we created.

"We were positive and it paid off in terms of our performance.

"What we have to do next time is convert some chances.

"There are things we can learn from the match and at least we took something positive back with us on the plane. The players know we can perform like that now and that has to help us.

"It was a different sort of performance from us.

"In the past we've come away from home and at times given the ball away cheaply.

"Against Villarreal we kept the ball well under pressure and the lads are just disappointed with the way we lost."

That was a reference to the controversial free-kick won by Joseba Llorente for Senna's winner after a challenge from Paul Hartley.

And Jan added: "We didn't think it was a free-kick and it's tough to take that when it costs you a goal - no matter how good a strike it was.

"I came on late as a sub so it's best to ask the other players how they felt about the new system.

"I wanted to play but it's nice to freshen up sometimes and the manager wanted to change it.

"To miss out on the Champions League is tough. This is the stage everyone wants to play on and it's hard when you are left out.

"The manager didn't speak to me about why I wasn't included but that's OK.

"At this level of football some squad rotation is normal so I can't complain."