I am not an encouraging person to speak to ahead of a Champions Legue game against a side from one of the big leagues. The exertions of playing in the EPL is a couple of levels above what we experience in the Shires of Scotland. Add into the mix the suspension of Daizen Maeda and
Read Next: Returning to the past could allow Celtic to build for the future
 | 4 - 2 |  |
Aston Villa Villa Park Europe | Celtic |
 |
v | |
Motherwell Fir Park Stadium Europe |
Celtic |
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtic | 23 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 11 | 53 | 60 |
| 2 | Rangers | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 47 | 19 | 28 | 50 |
| 3 | Dundee United | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 27 | 5 | 37 |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 32 | 36 | -4 | 35 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 39 | -10 | 31 |
| 6 | Hibernian | 24 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 35 | 37 | -2 | 30 |
| 7 | St Mirren | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 30 | 38 | -8 | 30 |
| 8 | Dundee | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 37 | 41 | -4 | 27 |
| 9 | Hearts | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 33 | -5 | 27 |
| 10 | Ross County | 24 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 24 | 43 | -19 | 26 |
| 11 | Kilmarnock | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 27 | 40 | -13 | 25 |
| 12 | St Johnstone | 24 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 27 | 48 | -21 | 18 |
