Strachan hopeful despite Messi's Barcelona return
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Your support makes all the difference.Celtic will face the Champions League's leading scorer tonight as they try to overturn Barcelona's 2-3 first-leg advantage. Lionel Messi, who is currently outscoring some of Europe's finest centre-forwards in the competition with six goals, returns to Frank Rijkaard's starting XI after being rested at the weekend. Thierry Henry is a leading candidate to make way for the Argentine.
Rijkaard has been roundly criticised for resting Messi at the weekend as a toothless Barcelona were beaten 4-2 away to Atletico Madrid but sporting director Txiki Begiristain has defended his coach, saying: "The Celtic match is more important. We can't afford to fail and we can't afford to lose our humility. We have to be very wary of Celtic because there is so much at stake."
The Celtic coach, Gordon Strachan, was last night likening the possible conquest of the two-times winners of the European Cup to climbing Mount Everest, joking that while many had managed it, "plenty had also died trying".
"We have not given up hope," he said. "We know that anything is possible. Gaining possession will be the key. When you are playing football there is nothing wrong with having a bit of fear and I think we will have a bit, and some excitement. Hopefully there will be no fear when we have the ball though."
Strachan's biggest dilemma is deciding who will mark Messi. His first choice left-back Andreas Hinkel is cup-tied having played in the Champions League for Seville so Mark Wilson or Paul Caddis will stand in.
Caddis made his European debut in the first leg but was replaced in the second half by Wilson who is now fit again after being out since last September with a knee injury and is favourite to start.
The Celtic captain, Stephen McManus, admitted being in awe of the names on the opposition teamsheet. He said: "It's not until you are on the same pitch as Ronaldinho, Messi, Eto'o and Henry do you realise how good they are."
But the return of Messi could mean McManus does not have to face Henry from the start. The former Arsenal man cut a forlorn figure as he was substituted in the second half of the weekend's defeat after one of his most ineffective games this season.
He is competing with Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho for the remaining two spots in Barcelona's three-pronged attack and both scored at the weekend. Ronaldinho scored with a spectacular overhead kick and Eto'o hit his ninth goal in eight starts this season.
Henry is Barcelona's second-top scorer in Europe with three goals and scored at Celtic Park in the first leg but his overall return of 13 goals in 31 games has led many fans to call for the return of the Messi-Eto'o-Ronaldinho attack.
Probable teams: Barcelona Valdes; Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Abidal; Deco, Touré, Iniesta; Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho or Henry Celtic Boruc; Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Donati, Brown, McGeady; Vennegoor, McDonald
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