Strach Can Put Jose's Nose Out Of Joint .. Just Like I Did In 83 Says Mark Mcghee

Nov 4 2007 Mark Guidi

Celtic V Benfica Tuesday, Kick-Off 7.45pm Live Stv

MARK McGHEE stiffened Jose Camacho and left him with a broken nose during the European Cup Winners' Cup Final between Aberdeen and Real Madrid which the Dons won 2-1.

Now McGhee would love to see former Dons team-mate Gordon Strachan inflict more pain on the Spaniard who takes his Benfica side to Parkhead on Tuesday night for the Champions League clash against Celtic.

Strachan was asked to provide a sample for the drugs test after the 1983 Final and had a raging Camacho for company in the medical room as he nursed his bloodied face and demanded McGhee be brought in so he could gain revenge.

McGhee never did see Camacho again but won't mind if he meets him in midweek.

The Motherwell gaffer said: "The thing with Camacho all started before the game when I was told by Alex Ferguson I'd be up against him.

"Camacho had a reputation as being not a thug exactly but a hardy bit of stuff.

"Sir Alex loved the European nights and I was under instructions to have first contact with the centre-half before he got me.

"He gave as much as he got but he had to go off - it was a points decision. Not a knock-out exactly but I think he'd had enough.

"The boy who came on for him picked me up at corners and we called him the Spanish waiter.

"He wasted no time and caught me with a right hook, absolutely cemented me. I had a lump in my cheek for months.

"That was another era. No TV cameras and none of us went down rolling about the turf.

"Camacho has gone on to have a right good career as a manager and his side will provide a real test for Gordon. Celtic need to win.

"They were unlucky in Portugal when they lost 1-0. Largely, Gordon got it right. Plan A worked until the 88thminute. Had Benfica scored in the 75th minute Gordon would have had the chance to implement Plan B. This tie is different. You can be blinded by the Parkhead factor - you expect Celtic to beat any team at home, especially on big European nights.

"Celtic can play better than they did in Lisbon and I believe they are much more effective when they are adventurous.

"I think they will be good enough to defeat Benfica."

McGhee believes Strachan has improved a great deal as a manager since he moved to Celtic and says the big Euro nights have played a significant role. Mark said: "There is no doubt Gordon is learning. But what he has to be careful of is learning to lose a different way every time.

"Whatever you learn in defeat must be used to ensure you win the next game.

"I'm sure it will be. But the end result is to go out and win. Celtic must win their last two home games and hope AC Milan can take at least a point against Shakhtar in Ukraine.

"In fact, if Milan beat Shakhtar I fancy Celtic can make it through."

McGhee won a Euro trophy with Aberdeen and also tasted domestic success with the Dons and during his playing career at Celtic and SV Hamburg.

There were memorable nights in European competition and McGhee would love the chance to do it all again as a manager.

He said: "The cross-culture thing of Europe appeals to me "My favourite type of football during my playing days was the European style.

"I must have been in about 50 Euro ties over 10 years.

"One game for Aberdeen was against Romanians Arges Pitesti. I remember Sir Alex telling us they were heathens - as far as I know they are quite strong Catholics.

"But he was the master at winding us up.

"We were 3-0 up after the first game but by the interval in the return were two down.

"Sir Alex had one of his famous rants, wrecked the dressing-room and thermos flasks were flying everywhere.

"But the Romanians were spitting and nipping. I would rather be punched than spat on.

"We had to keep our composure - as soon as you reacted they went down. In the end we scored twice for a draw and our ticket into the next round."