Inside track
Swedish international goalkeeper Magnus Hedman hopes to continue Celtic's progress in Europe
Which game are you most looking forward to this season?
The Old Firm matches
Which young player coming through the ranks at your club should we look out for in the coming months?
Liam Miller, the 22-year-old midfielder, is one to watch
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Realistically, what would be a successful season for your club?
To go as far as possible in the Champions League, and win domestic competitions
If it's not your club, who do you think will win the Premierleague title, the Scottish Cup. And the Champions League?
I don't like to think negatively. But I do think Real Madrid will win the Champions League
What is the ideal number of teams in the top flight?
I don't think there is really anything wrong with the 12 we have at the moment, but we could add another two
If money was no object and you could sign one player for your club, who would it be?
Zinedine Zidane. He is the best footballer in the world and also very hard working
What's the worst ground to play at?
I wasn't involved in enough games last season to comment
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What was your club's best performance last season?
Beating Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to reach the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup
And the worst?
Like I said, I'm not a negative thinker
What was your most memorable moment last season?
Unfortunately I was watching from the stand, but the atmosphere at my first Old Firm derby was amazing
And the funniest?
Jonathan Gould was warming up [on the side of the pitch] during a match, and was knocked over by Chris Sutton
Who gave the best individual performance against you last season?
David Thompson of Blackburn Rovers in the Uefa Cup second round first leg at Celtic Park
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Which is the best set of away fans you have encountered?
The Liverpool supporters — they are similar to Celtic's
What is your favourite movie to watch on the team bus?
Nothing in particular, but we like action movies
If you could opt for any musician, alive or dead, who would you choose to write and perform a new club song?
My wife Magdelena [a pop star in Sweden]
One thing you could change about the game?
We need to put a stop timewasting. Referees should be allowed to enforce time limits for the taking of throw-ins and free-kicks
Hardest part of being a pro?
The time you have to spend away from your family
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One tip for aspiring footballers?
Don't take it too seriously when you're young. Try different sports — that's what I did
One word to describe your mood on the eve of the new season?
Hunger
3 key questions that will decide this season
1 Can Celtic regain the title?
Yes. They have more strength in depth than Rangers, but could do with adding a little more quality rather than quantity to their squad. With the PLC board on the record as being determined to keep club wages to approximately 50% of revenue, manager Martin O'Neill has been forced to shop in the bargain basement since splashing out £6m for Wales international John Hartson in August 2001. Although he has undoubtedly unearthed gems such as Bobo Balde on the cheap, he will probably need to break the £5m barrier again if he is to find players who are significantly better than those already at his disposal
2 Can they make an impact in the Champions League?
Despite their Uefa Cup run ultimately ending in disappointment, it showed that Celtic have a battle-hardened core of players who can stand toe to toe with the European elite. The one slight worry is that this core is an ageing one and that last season may have represented its peak. Nevertheless, Celtic coped comfortably with Celta Vigo, VfB Stuttgart, Boavista and Liverpool, which should give them confidence that they can handle the best teams from the continent's big leagues. Provided, of course, they can clear the qualifying hurdle
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3 Will Martin O'Neill stay at the club?
The question that will inevitably arise again at some stage in the season. In fact, O'Neill has already been described as a favoured candidate to join the Russian revolution at Chelsea should Claudio Ranieri, the incumbent, fail to make an immediate impact. O'Neill knows that making an impression on the Champions League would further adorn his already impressive CV, and perhaps tempt Liverpool and Newcastle should Gerard Houllier or Bobby Robson step aside in the new season. He may soon tire of the repetitive nature of the Old Firm conflict — if he hasn't already
New arrival
O'Neill's signings tend to slip in at the last minute, just beating the transfer deadline. A creative midfielder and a defender who can build from the back are the club's priorities. With Stanislav Varga signing a permanent deal and perhaps providing the latter, the whole budget could go on the former. Despite links with various players, including Paolo Di Canio, Hakan Yakin and James McFadden, Celtic's magician has still to materialise
Strongest XI
Hedman
Varga
Balde
Valgaeren
Agathe
Petrov
Lennon
Thompson
Larsson
Hartson
The squad
3 Momo Sylla M
4 Jackie McNamara D
5 Joos Valgaeren D
6 Bobo Balde D
7 Henrik Larsson A
8 Alan Thompson M
9 Chris Sutton A
10 John Hartson A
12 David Fernandez A
14 Paul Lambert M
15 Bobby Petta M
16 Ulrik Laursen D
17 Didier Agathe M
18 Neil Lennon M
19 Stilian Petrov M
20 Robert Douglas G
21 Magnus Hedman G
23 Stanislav Varga D
29 Shuan Maloney A
30 Steve Guppy M
34 Mark Fotheringham D
35 Johan Mjallby D
39 Jamie Smith M
40 Stephen Crainey D
41 John Kennedy D
Manager: Martin O'Neill
Celebrity fan
Justin Currie, Del Amitri lead singer
I don't know if I can handle another season like the last: on the final day, I was crying on my couch. But with the progress we've made, we could reach a Champions League semi-final in the next few years
Where are they now?
Andy Payton: Signed for Stalybridge Celtic of the Unibond League last month after being released by Burnley, his home club