Celtic Women Aim to Make History in UEFA Women’s Champions League

This Sunday will see the arrival of the UEFA Women’s Champions League to the Albert Bartlett Stadium as Celtic kick off in Round Two. The Ghirls are bidding to make even more history under Elena Sadiku, with the Swede preparing her squad this week for the visit of Vorskla Poltava.

Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday afternoon’s clash, Hoops captain Kelly Clark insists watching Brendan Rodgers’ side in Europe’s top competition has inspired her to reach for glory.

She said: “I always speak about my time at the club and watching the guys do things and how much it makes you want to do it.

“I’ve watched them play in the Champions League, and I’ve listened to that roar when the Champions League anthem comes on. You crave doing it yourself.

“I know every fan craves doing it but the reality is I’m actually in a position that I can do it. It means everything. It’s a competition that is a genuine reminder that you are the Champions of your league.”

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Celtic cruised past KuPS and Gintra in Round One of the competition, and the Ghirls have it in their sights to make history again by reaching the UWCL group stages for the first time in the club’s history.

And the Celtic skipper is adamant she will keep her cool on the biggest stage of all in order to lead the team in the best way possible.

“It’s nice to play in anyway because we did something well last season. To mix with the best teams in Europe is huge,” she said.

“I will need to talk myself out of the emotions before Sunday so it doesn’t affect my performance and I can be the calming influence I need to be on the girls.”

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Celtic captain Kelly Clark was in tears last year as the Parkhead side headed into Champions League qualifiers for the first time.

Now, as Elena Sadiku’s side are in touching distance of the group stages of the tournament, she is determined to use the emotional hook of the competition to write another chapter for Celtic’s women’s side.

Reaching for Glory

Airdrie is host to Sunday's first leg, round two qualifier against Vorskla Poltava with the second leg also hosted by Celtic on Thursday, given the Ukrainian side’s issues with hosting games.

With the group stages of the competition tantalisingly close, Clark wants to go the full way.

“This is now the last thing that I can tick off,” said Clark. “On a personal level, I have played for Scotland, won Cups, won the league and I would absolutely love to do this and we know we are genuinely close. My hunger to do well for the club has always been there. I am obsessed with it.”

Clark was at Celtic Park on Wednesday night with Elena Sadiku as Brendan Rodgers’ side got their campaign off to a flier. It was a first for Sadiku while Clark is a veteran of such nights. Both have a desire to claim a piece of the Champions League pie for themselves.

“I have watched the guys in the Champions League so many times,” said Clark. “I have listened to that roar when the anthem comes on and you crave doing it yourself. I know every fan does but I am now in a position where I actually can do it. It means everything.

“It is actually something I have thought about in the last few days. The first time we played in the Champions League and I had to stop myself from crying in the changing room…I don’t know.

“There is just something about it. I borderline got emotional so I have worked on not getting emotional so I have had to practise what I say so that I don’t! Whatever I say in the huddle, it won’t be the first time I’ve said it.

“We are only two steps away from making that dream come true but it is two very big steps.

“Last season I got very emotional when we were just about to walk out and the fans started singing ‘For It’s A Grand Old Team’ and I am not lying when I say I had tears in my eyes just because of Celtic’s history in Europe. “It is so special that we are talking about the chance to write history with a club that is all about history.”

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