Scottish Premiership champions Celtic signed Norway winger Elyounoussi on loan from Premier League Southampton but will he start in the Europa League?
Southampton loanee Mohamed Elyounoussi has admitted that he was left blown away by Celtic’s typically raucous supporters immediately after swapping the South Coast for Glasgow, in quotes reported by the club’s official website.
There is nothing quite like a European night under the lights at Parkhead.
And if Elyounoussi was already shocked by the din created by the home support, just wait till he’s serenaded by 60,000 loyal fans in the Europa League clash with Cluj tonight, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ringing out from a sea of green.
“I knew Celtic had a big stadium and that they had a lot of history, but the atmosphere was something I wasn’t expecting,” says the Norwegian international, who came off the bench during the 1-1 draw away at Rennes two weeks ago.
“I didn’t know the song ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before I walked out of the tunnel that night. The fans were singing it as we walked on to the pitch and it gave me goosebumps. Hearing that as an opposition player is amazing and you realise how big a part the home fans can play.
“It doesn’t feel hostile because it’s such a beautiful song, but you immediately see what a special place Celtic Park is. We had huge respect for Celtic but we started on the front foot and I remember when I scored there was a moment of quiet which I hadn’t heard at any other point in the game.”
Southampton paid £16 million to bring Elyounoussi to the Premier League after a stellar spell at Basel but he rocked up at Celtic a year on, desperate to rebuild his reputation after a difficult debut season under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Elyounoussi is exactly the kind of explosive attacking talent who can make the difference on European nights, as he did so often with Basel, and Celtic will be praying that he rolls back the years against Cluj tonight.
That would be one way of getting those Celtic fans signing his name.
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