Strachan aims for special night

Uefa Champions League, Group E

Venue: Celtic Park Date: Wednesday 5 November
Kick-off: 1945 GMT Coverage: Live on Sky Sports 2, BBC Radio Scotland, live text commentary on BBC Website, plus video of 5 Live Final Score (UK only)

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Strachan is anticipating a thrilling match at Celtic Park

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan wants another big performance in Glasgow as he seeks a vital Champions League victory against Manchester United.

The Scots have lost just twice in 18 home Champions League ties.

And Strachan said: "The European nights are fantastic. Whatever happens in our careers, you will not get any better.

"In the three years I've been here, there have been some special, special nights and we will try our best to create another one."

Celtic, who are the only team in this season's group stage yet to score, have only picked up one point from a home draw with Aalborg.

Anything less than a win for the home side will see them lose sight of the knockout phase, if the Danish side are beaten at home by Villarreal.

Manchester United cruised to a comfortable 3-0 triumph when the two sides met at Old Trafford last month.

However, Celtic can take heart from a 1-0 victory on United's last competitive visit to Parkhead in 2006, with the game settled by a wonderful free kick from Shunsuke Nakamura.

Strachan aiming for historic evening

"First of all we have to perform, then we have to have a wee bit of luck, maybe have the decisions going for us and the players all playing to their maximum," added Strachan. "If we get all that, the result will take care of itself.

"The two offside goals at Old Trafford didn't help, but we did not make too much fuss about it. We said the better team won but hopefully if we put as much effort in again, we will get the breaks that we are probably due.

"We can do it. We can also get beat, everyone knows that. But it is a special occasion.

"We have to be careful with our passing, get close to their players and when we have the ball give them a problem. If we are to score it will take a special moment from one of our players, so we have to create a platform for them to do that.

"We know we are not as good technically as them, or as fast with our passing but the one thing you cannot question at this club is the character and determination of the players."

Celtic surrendered rather tamely at Old Trafford but Strachan does not believe an overly-aggressive approach is the way to unsettle the Champions League holders.

The one thing you cannot question at this club is the character and determination of the players Gordon Strachan

"What does more aggression mean?" he said when asked about his approach. "You can't kick lumps out of each other and quite rightly so.

"It's not like 40 years ago when Celtic played Leeds United, when you could kick 10 bells out of each other.

"You can't get away with that these days, fortunately they have brought some civilised rules in since then.

"We have to be careful with our passing, we have to get close to their players and when we get the ball we have to give them a problem.

"There has to be special moments from some of our players to score, unless we get a freak goal."