The recommencing of the rivalry between Gordon Strachan and Bruce Rioch, and the Northern European duel between Celtic and AaB Aalborg tonight, could hardly be described as a classic case of familiarity breeding contempt, but it can be held up as an all-Scottish meeting set against the backdrop of a Champions League group infiltrated by a distinctive tartan flavouring.
Strachan and Rioch last encountered each other in a competitive match nine years ago in the English FA Cup at Norwich's sedate Carrow Road. The former Scotland players, Strachan's Celtic and Rioch's Aalborg, will meet in the Champions League in Glasgow in front of a teeming crowd of 60,000. Sir Alex Ferguson, whose Manchester United side face Villarreal, is the third Scottish coach in Group E, but they will know that in terms of qualifying, three into two does not go. Or three Scottish managers cannot go into the last 16.
In the last two seasons, Celtic have confronted opening group games at Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk, and lost both of them. They will be content to open this season's tournament at home, but they will also be aware of the perils of defeat. Celtic are formidable at Celtic Park in Europe, but their away run is regrettable. They have won 12 out of 17 matches at Celtic Park over the past five seasons in the tournament. They have managed only one away point from 17 games outside of Scotland courtesy of a 1-1 draw in Barcelona four years ago.
In keeping with recent happenings, Celtic will deem beating Aalborg of some importance. The Scottish champions have progressed to the last 16 of the tournament over the past two seasons after collecting maximum points from their home games only to be halted by AC Milan and Barcelona in the first knockout round. They are third favourites behind United and Villarreal to gain a top-two spot. Strachan spent yesterday painting his side as underdogs, and comparing them to a dog.
"There is something of the mongrel about us," he said. "We have everything in us, in that Celtic can play it almost every way imaginable. "Nothing absolutely brilliant, but we can play most styles of football." Rioch captained Scotland at the 1978 World Cup finals. He has managed Middlesbrough, Bolton, Arsenal, Norwich and Wigan before moving to Denmark to run Odense and Aalborg. During his days managing Middlesbrough, he once tried to sign Strachan from Manchester United. At the age of 61, he hardly has a point to prove.
"Three Scots managers in one group is amazing," said Rioch. "Can any other country match that? "I know I am 61 but I don't feel it. Hard work and enthusiasm are the two key ingredient for every one to possess in life." Strachan will accept a repeat of their last meeting when his Coventry side won 3-1 against Rioch's Norwich. @Email:dkane@thenational.ae
