Celtic praise ex-striker Larsson for Champions League win

GLASGOW, May 18: Celtic have congratulated their former striker Henrik Larsson after he helped Barcelona win the Champions League yesterday and landed the Glasgow club a place in the competition's lucrative group stage next season.

''The part which Henrik played in last night's victory is clear for all to see and obviously everyone at Celtic is delighted for him and for Barcelona,'' Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said on the club's website today.

Larsson came on as a substitute just after the hour mark against Arsenal and set up both Barca goals for Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti in their 2-1 victory at the Stade de France.

The Swede even earned lavish praise from Arsenal striker Thierry Henry with the Frenchman saying after the match: ''It was Henrik Larsson who made the difference''.

''Just as he did time and time again for Celtic, Henrik made that telling contribution and, as a number of people have already said, he was in fact the difference (between the teams),'' added Lawwell.

Celtic had already qualified for the Champions League by winning the SPL in manager Gordon Strachan's first season but they would have had to play in the third qualifying round instead of Arsenal if the London side had won in Paris.

''From the club's point of view we are, of course, delighted now to be entered straight into the Champions League group stages -- somewhere every major club wants to be,'' said Lawwell.

REUTERS