BARCELONA, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Juventus. As a player, Neil Lennon helped the Hoops topple some of Europe’s stiffest competition during his seven years on the pitch at Paradise.

As a manager, the Irishman’s European record is no less impressive. Spartak Moscow, Ajax and Rennes are all among the high-profile scalps he’s claimed from the dugout, and who could forget that fairy tale evening in 2012 when the Scottish champions thwarted the late Tito Vilanova’s Catalan giants on home soil, Lionel Messi and all.

Another of the club’s most impressive Euro triumphs came during this season’s UEFA Europa League campaign, when Neil Lennon’s men defeated Serie A giants, Lazio home and away. Ryan Christie netted the first of two in Glasgow – a goal which, by his own admission, he’ll remember for the rest of his life.

“At the start of the season, the gaffer said he thought this club had something to prove in Europe again,” said Christie in an exclusive interview with this week’s Celtic View. “There are so many teams across Europe that are considered big teams, and we want to make sure that we’re still considered as a European giant. To be thought of like that, you need to prove it with a good run in Europe.”

Finishing top of their Europa League group with 13 points suggests it’s so far so good on that front. The Hoops dropped points on just two occasions in the last stage – a draw with Rennes in France on matchday one, and an inconsequential defeat to Cluj in Romania on matchday six, when first place was already guaranteed – and now stare down a last-32 encounter with FC Copenhagen.

Thursday night’s first-leg marks the third year in a row that Celtic have enjoyed European football after Christmas, and Christie is determined to help his side progress further still. The reigning Danish Superliga champions will prove stern opposition, but the 24-year-old reckons bringing the tie home next week, in front of the famous Paradise faithful, could play in the Hoops’ favour.

“Since the draw, everyone has been looking forward to this game, but, despite us saying and reiterating this all the time, we do play game-to-game, and can only ever allow ourselves to think about it once the previous game is out of the way,” Christie continued. “Now, we’re back fully-focused on Europe, and I do think playing at home second benefits us.

“The way the domestic set up is, we come back from the break and we’re so determined to go on a run of games that you take the Euro game in your stride, no matter how it goes on the night. Valencia last year was a massive tie, but we didn’t really think about that until it came around. This season, we’d love to take it a step further.

“Can we go all the way? I mean, why not? I think that needs to be our attitude. It’s never going to be easy, but, especially at Celtic Park, the effect that place has is incredible.”

For the full interview with Ryan Christie, see this week’s Celtic View, out Wednesday, February 19.

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Ryan Christie has his eye on Euro success in this week’s Celtic View