PSG’S Parkhead showpiece tonight could be the first step to the French giants being crowned European champions for the first time.
That is the dream of superstar captain Thiago Silva as the footballing globetrotters prepare to go toe-to-toe with Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic.
The Parc des Princes outfit were infamously dumped out of the Champions League last season by Barcelona at the last 16 stage in what was the most incredible match ever seen in the competition.
After taking a 4-0 lead to the Nou Camp, the Catalan giants turned the game on its head with a dramatic 6-1 victory.
Neymar scored twice that night and, now the Brazilian is in the blue, red and white of PSG as the world’s most expensive player, Silva has lofty aspirations of what the Parisians can do this year.
“I don’t know if we are favourites. We should get close this year,” the Brazilian told the press at Celtic Park last night.
Read more: Derek Rae: Imperious PSG should win, but Celtic have history of upsetting the odds
“There are a lot of players with a lot of quality across the Champions League. But we have a lot of talent in our team.
“We know that Celtic are a very good team. We know how hard they are to beat at home. We expect a match with a lot of intensity.
“They will be very strong in closing us down, trying to stop us from playing. We analysed them this morning.
“With the players we’ve got, we are aiming to go far. The atmosphere in the team is magnificent.
“We will try to handle the pressure as well as we can. If we stick together, we can handle the pressure of trying to go far in the Champions League.”
PSG trained at their complex in Paris yesterday morning before jetting to Glasgow in the afternoon. A leisurely stroll around a deserted Celtic Park was all the preparation this star-studded team will have before walking into a cauldron of noise tonight for their group opener.
Despite dripping with quality, there appears to be no arrogance about the Ligue 1 side. Indeed, Silva claimed that getting to grips with the £200m Neymar in training will have him up to the task of dealing with James Forrest and Patrick Roberts.
“The recruitment was very, very good. They are both experienced and they are both very motivated to improve this team,” he said. “We have confidence in them as team-mates.
“Neymar has so much experience in the Champions League. He can maybe make the difference.
“The three players we have signed are incredible. But the opposing teams, including Celtic, know all about them.
“It’s just normal that training is hard. When you’ve got these guys in there with this technique and ability on the ball, it’s an impossible task to stop them every time.
“They have their own individual quality. Neymar’s speed is almost unstoppable.
“Marking him in training is improving me. And that may come in handy, because Celtic have some very fast forwards!”
Manager Unai Emery was equally respectful of his Group B opponents, with the former Seville boss adding: “All teams have players who must respected. And I saw Leigh Griffiths play in different games. I admire his quality, the way he holds the ball, his movement and his scoring ability.
“We’ve analysed the style of his play and the whole Celtic team. We have to counter their strengths.
“Celtic is a club with a big history and this is an important match for them in the Champions League.
“They have players who have proven themselves at international level.
“Celtic will play with intensity when they don’t have the ball and intensity when they do have the ball. They will look to attack with speed.
“It’s a huge night for the team and for the supporters.”
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