I THOUGHT I'D KICKED CELTIC OUT OF EUROPE; I Could See Headlines after I Scored Own Goal; Says HENRIK LARSSON

Beginning of article

Henrik Larsson saw into the future on Tuesday night after his own goal put Tirol Innsbruck back in the driving seat in their UEFA Cup tie against Celtic.

The Swedish ace imagined Wednesday morning's back pages - and it didn't make pretty reading.

Larsson, who was able to laugh after what he described as the "most amazing match of my life", said: "I could see the headlines - 'Larsson kicks Celtic out of Europe'."

Larsson's second-half performance though helped Celtic to a 6-3 victory over the Austrians and a place in tomorrow' afternoon's UEFA Cup draw.

But as the Swede admitted, that looked a long way off after his 'equaliser'.

He said: "I was very frustrated. I started with an assist against Hibs that made Chic Charnley's goal on the first day of the season.

"And when I scored in my own net I could see the headlines again.

"When Malky Mackay lost possession and the ball came across, I tried to strike the ball with the outside of my first foot to send it out for a corner kick.

"But I only managed to put the ball into the corner of my net. I couldn't have done it if I'd tried.

"I'd have been happy to win 1-0. But it was 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 then an own goal. At 4-2, I knew we were ahead... I think.

"I've never played in a game like that but the team wanted to win - and I wanted to win."

While he agreed that Tuesday's match was his best since arriving from Holland, he suggested that was down to the number of games he's now played.

He said: "In the first half I didn't come forward too much but I needed the ball. In the second half though, I walked my defender from corner to corner.

"Before coming here the last game I'd played was in May for Feyenoord. The next time I played was the 30 minutes I had against Hibs.

"I was not match fit but now I feel as if I can run all through the match."

Celtic coach Wim Jansen was the main reason Larsson departed the continent and headed for Scotland.

The two had worked together at Feyenoord, and Larsson says that Jansen is getting his message across.

He said: "Most of the players have been listening and now they realise what the coach wants. The big difference is that we now have a game plan. We try to stay in our positions.

"Everyone took their responsibility and that's the way we have to play. And we have to communicate much more." Larsson had a hand in three of Celtic's six goals on the night, putting up Andy Thom for No 2, being upended for the spot kick converted by Simon Donnelly, then teasing the Austrian defence before setting up Craig Burley to tap in the clincher.

Six goals against European …