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Dorus de Vries is now set to be in goal for Celtic’s European showdown against Zenit Saint Petersburg next Thursday and will appear in Europe for the first time since the team were hammered 7-0 in Barcelona in 2016.
After Craig Gordon was ruled out with a long term knee injury, De Vries is now Celtic’s first choice ‘keeper and will be hoping for a better display this time around in just his second appearance in Europe for the club.
Despite not having the likes of Messi, Neymar and Suarez in their ranks, Zenit will provide tough opposition for the Hoops when they travel to Parkhead for the first leg and the 37-year-old will have to be on top form.
As revealed by the Daily Record, the Dutchman says he is still scarred from the hugely disappointing night in Catalonia in last season’s opening group game in the Champions League.
I think that will take a couple of years to heal up, that one, because I am a winner, I want to win.
My daily routine is to make sure I perform every single day.
That’s how I approach my job and it is still the sorest point in terms of I hate losing, I can’t stand it.
It doesn’t matter whether it is Barcelona or Partick Thistle, you want to win. Simple.
It was a disappointing night in terms of the result, of course. It was really hard to take on board that you conceded goals, even if you concede one it is always hard to take as a goalkeeper because you don’t want to concede any goals.
The former Dunfermline stopper moved to Celtic in the summer of 2016 after previously playing under Rodgers at Swansea.
De Vries lost his spot in the team soon after the Barcelona defeat to Gordon but has been given a second chance after the Scot’s injury problems.
He will be hoping for a good display to get a run of appearances in the second half of the season and will have to fend off competition from new signing Scott Bain.
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Eric Knott 
