Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan has admitted the squad is determined to wipe away the scars of last season's Champions League nightmare as they face Austrian champions LASK in a £40million winner-takes-all showdown.
The Hoops crashed out to minnows Kairat Alamty last year, and McCowan says the players are desperate to hear the famous anthem ringing around Parkhead once again.
McCowan: 'We Want That Music Back'
"We have the Champions League qualifiers coming up, and the aim of this club is to be in that," McCowan said. "It was a huge disappointment not being in it last year, so we need to go and put on our game, with good performances and a good result to qualify again."
He added: "A lot of the guys in there know what it's like. They push all the boys that aren't as experienced in it to help and know how much it means for the club to be in there. We want that music back on Tuesday and Wednesday nights."
European Experience Key
Celtic tasted victory away to Feyenoord and Stuttgart last season as they reached the Europa League knockout stages. McCowan believes those battles will stand the Hoops in good stead when the Champions League spotlight returns.
"It's just mentality, I think," he said. "When we're going to these places, a huge core group of the boys who had started more games than myself, watching from the side, you're able to see just how assured they were in these places, going, 'We can get results here if we put in the effort, put in the mentality, and put in good performances and show you're a top quality side who can handle these moments'."
O'Neill's Standards
While Celtic have been mediocre in Europe for the best part of two decades, fans are dreaming of another fairytale run under Martin O'Neill. The veteran boss famously guided the Hoops to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville, knocking out Liverpool, Stuttgart and Celta Vigo along the way.
McCowan joked that the 74-year-old's high standards have not changed. "He's calling us rubbish compared to that! He's good like that, he can cut you in half when you need it," he said.
"I remember the Feyenoord game, at half-time, he said to me, if I could run I'd be some player! It's nice to have those wee moments. As soon as he sees you're confident, he can cut you in half and make sure you stay humble and stay hungry – it's a good thing for the squad."
Reinforcements and Continuity
O'Neill is still hunting reinforcements before the Champions League registration deadline arrives in less than two weeks. McCowan is desperate to play his part in helping Celtic return to the promised land after hailing the impact of the Double-winning boss.
"The continuity is a big thing. You want to have the same feeling, but strive for better," he added. "When you have the same manager and the same coaches, it can help push towards that, but as a player group, we know we need to work as hard as we can and get the performances as best we can, with the coaches putting in the best structure they can with the squad. Continuity is massive."
