Atletico Madrid’s star striker Antoine Griezmann recently offered his thoughts on the upcoming UEFA Champions League group stage, singling out Celtic as a team to watch, especially when playing at Celtic Park. His comments, reported by the Daily Record, not only acknowledge Celtic’s historical strength at home but also highlight a pressing issue: the need for Celtic Park to regain its reputation as a European fortress.

“Celtic are a team who consistently win their league, score a lot of goals and will be a very difficult game away,” Griezmann said. While the Frenchman’s remarks echo the sentiment that Celtic Park, with its electric atmosphere, poses a unique challenge for visiting teams, the reality in recent years has been somewhat different.

Once a fortress where European giants feared to tread, Celtic Park has become a successful hunting ground for visiting teams, even those with comparative or even lower budgets. The challenge for Celtic this season is to harness the energy of their home ground and turn it back into the intimidating venue it once was.

Griezmann also dismissed any notion that Group E, which includes Celtic, is an easy draw. “This group is four teams, all who have a European pedigree and who have a big chance of progressing,” he stated. He emphasised the need for Atletico Madrid to focus on their own game, confident that their talent could see them through to the knockout stages.

Griezmann’s comments could serve as a rallying cry for Celtic and their fans. The acknowledgement from a player of his calibre could be the spark needed to reignite the fire at Celtic Park. With the Champions League campaign on the horizon, it’s high time for the Hoops to make Celtic Park a place where visiting teams, including the likes of Atletico Madrid, come to fear once again.