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Page last updated at 16:58 GMT, Monday, 9 March 2009

Auld urges Celts to turn on style

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Interview - Celtic legend Bertie Auld

Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld says Celtic have an obligation to win league titles and entertain fans in the process.

Auld told BBC Scotland that, despite the club's recent trophy haul, the team has not been as pleasing on the eye as the fans would like.

"It's been lacking for the last year and a half, but they're winning. And they're winning comfortably," he said.

Celtic face Rangers in Sunday's Co-op Insurance Cup final and enjoy a three-point lead over them in the title race.

Manager Gordon Strachan has guided Celtic to three consecutive league titles, but the side's displays have been criticised in some quarters for a lack of sparkle.

And Auld, who starred for the Parkhead side in the 1960s and 1970s, said the supporters wanted to see entertaining football in the club's pursuit of domestic honours.

"All you have to do is look at the crowds that come to each game," he said.

At Celtic Football Club you have the ability or you shouldn't be there - and you've got to entertain

Bertie Auld

"You're talking about 60,000 at most home games. They'll be disappointed because of the lack of entertainment.

"But everybody is, because if you've played at Celtic Park you know first and foremost you must have the ability to entertain."

Auld said he would like to see more youngsters being blooded in the first team and he sounded a note of caution over bringing in foreign players who do not significantly improve the side.

"I feel like we should be looking at the reserves, the youth development, because the supporters themselves would give them more encouragement than someone coming in who has not got the ability," he said.

The European Cup winner added: "I think it's important to realise that at Celtic Football Club you have the ability or you shouldn't be there - and you've got to entertain. And whenever you go to the park you know you're expected to win.

"It's something not outwith anybody's ability; but you shouldn't be there if you're not capable of doing both of these things."

Auld, however, defended Celtic strikers Georgios Samaras and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who are enduring a barren period in front of goal.

"Every player goes through that," he said.

"Both of them had a reputation. Whether they fulfil that, we'll not be able to tell you until the end of this season.

"It's a question of getting on the scoresheet again and believing in themselves. It's only a hiccup."

Celtic take on Co-op Insurance Cup holders Rangers at Hampden on Sunday looking to get back to winning ways after losing to St Mirren in the last eight of the Scottish Cup.

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see also
St Mirren 1-0 Celtic
07 Mar 09 |  Scottish Cups
Boyd backs Celtic to keep nerve
24 Feb 09 |  Celtic
Old Firm issue Hampden pitch plea
29 Jan 09 |  Scottish Cups


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