Gary Caldwell: Celtic will be even better this season

Jul 13 2008 By Ewing Grahame

CELTIC stopper Gary Caldwell has bad news for Kenny Miller, Lee Miller and the other SPL strikers.

Last season Gordon Strachan's team had the best defensive record in the league but Caldwell insists the mean green machine will get even better.

Strachan's rearguard came in for stick last term with fans demanding new signings and the return of Martin O'Neill favourite Bobo Balde.

However, the Hoops still managed to rack up 21 clean sheets and Caldwell is convinced they will be even harder to break down this season.

He said: "We let in just 26 goals in the league and that's something we want to beat. Stephen McManus and I have had a good partnership since I came here.

"We knew each other before then but we've had a lot of matches together and now know each other's game.

"We understand each other's strengths and weaknesses and that helps. You have to be ready to cover for mistakes but having the best defensive record gives us the confidence to improve."

Keeping things tight at the back will be essential if Celtic are to go a stage further in the Champions League.

Strachan's men have reached the last 16 for the past two seasons but found AC Milan and Barcelona too classy.

However, Caldwell believes it could be third time lucky as they attempt to become the first Scottish club to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

He said: "The benchmark is the last 16 and once we get there we'll hopefully progress further. We're more comfortable playing at that level now.

"I'd like to think we've learned from our mistakes.Our reputation has also been enhanced although this club always had a great European tradition.

"The atmosphere at Parkhead on those nights is unique and we've proved we're capable of causing bigger clubs problems. If we improve in certain areas then we can progress."

Last year the Parkhead faithful were forced to sit through a nail-biting penalty shoot-out against Spartak Moscow in the final qualifying round before Artur Boruc's heroics eliminated the Russians.

They won't have to endure that torment this time although SPL runners-up Rangers will have to do it the hard way.

Caldwell said: "Automatically qualifying for the group stage was a massive bonus for winning the title.

"The two games against Spartak were difficult and it could have gone either way in the shoot-out.

"The Champions League is where this club needs to be so having the luxury of going straight in is great."

But, the Scotland star admits that possibility looked unlikely in April when Rangers led the SPL by seven points and had a game in hand. Strachan even told the press it would be "near impossible" for Celtic to retain the title.

Caldwell refused to say whether the manager also told his players that - but as tiring Rangers struggled to cope with their 68-game campaign the Hoops came up on the rails to take the flag.

Gary said: "Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's last-minute winner in the first Old Firm game at Parkhead was the big turning point.

"Without that goal it would probably have been over. That gave us belief because it put huge pressure on Rangers.

"However, if you win your last seven games you deserve to win the league. It was near impossible but we did it.

"It was a long shot yet we showed tremendous character."

Celtic have been champions in six of the last eight seasons but Caldwell insists it's becoming tougher each year.

He said: "The league is stronger than when I first went to Hibs in 2002.

"Last season Dundee United were excellent, Aberdeen were a very good side and Motherwell also improved.

"Every year the clubs get better and that makes it much more competitive.

"Opponents always raise their game against the Old Firm so we have to raise ours every week."