Celtic welcome PSV Eindhoven before their game vs Rangers
By StevieMac
Celtic will walk straight into the group stages of the Champions League this season, as a result of winning the Premiership. On the other hand, the Rangers will have to go through the qualification phase, if they are to get to Europe’s elite competition. PSV Eindhoven are in Glasgow for the first leg of their play-off tie at Ibrox.
The Rangers did well to get past Royale Union SG in the previous round, after losing 2-0 in the first leg away in Belgium.
Celtic laid out the red carpet treatment for PSV and welcomed a party of guests to Parkhead, ahead of the Dutch club’s play-off first leg at Ibrox.
The trip to Celtic saw PSV’s top brass, key sponsors and corporate guests being taken to Parkhead by coach from Glasgow Airport with an exclusive tour guide in Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who has extensive knowledge and experience of both clubs.
Celtic welcome PSV to Parkhead ahead of their game vs Rangers
As reported by the Scottish Daily Express, one corporate guest said about the visit:
"“I don’t know if Rangers will like that we have gone to visit Celtic! It was a good trip and we learned a lot from Jan, who seems to know everything about Celtic. We had a very good meal there too and we were well looked after.”"
0n the other hand, Vennegoor, who had a long career at PSV and played almost a 100 games for Celtic as well, winning several titles for both clubs, said about the matter:
"“It’s always nice to come back to Glasgow because I spent three years here and I enjoyed taking the business guest on a tour of the stadium.”"
The former Celtic and PSV star also warned them of the atmosphere that they can expect at Ibrox:
"“It’s going to a very intense atmosphere at Ibrox.”"
Rangers have been able to make a fortress out of Ibrox in Europe in recent times. We saw them turn ties around consistently at their home ground, after losing the away legs. Thus, that is something that PSV will have to keep an eye out on.
But at the same time, one advantage that they have is that the first leg is at Ibrox this time around instead of the second, which will prevent the Rangers from throwing caution to the wind.