LARSSON LAYS FRENCH GHOST TO REST
The Parkhead idol returned to France on Thursday night, exactly a year after his sickening injury there, and struck the penalty equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Bordeaux which sets up a real thriller for Celtic Park in a fortnight.
Larsson also admitted that he could not wipe out the memory of Lyon when he stood on French soil again.
"It's only natural that when you come back to the country where you had such a bad injury that it's on your mind. It was on my mind when we started, but that's it, out of the way now.
"I try not to think about that night in Lyon yet sometimes it creeps into your mind - but I said to myself what is the chance of it happening twice."
The huge Hoops travelling support of 4000 in the Stade Lescure, however, thought Larsson had been struck yet a gain, when he went down inside the first minute after a smash in the face from Bordeaux keeper Ulrich Rame and was flat on the turf for two minutes before recovering. Later his face was cut in a tussle with Lilian Laslandes.
"My nose feels sore after those two whacks," joked Larsson. "I don't what it is with France - they don't seem to like me here."
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill revealed that his players had banned themselves from talking to Larsson about the anniversary of his Lyon leg break in the run-up to the Bordeaux tie.
"No-one mentioned Lyon to him," said O'Neill. "In case it brought back bad memories. But I think his performance tonight expunged all those memories for a long time to come.
"Henrik still thinks has some sharpness to come back into his game. well, if he can do that he will be some player. I thought his first half performance was unbelievable."
Larsson's 17th goal of the season cancelled out Chistophe Dugarry's opener but O'Neill warned: " the tie is far from over - Bordeaux is a quality side and we will need to defend just as well at Celtic Park as we did here."
Celtic now switch their attention to Fir Park for Sunday night's SPL clash with Motherwell, desperate to win a match which has been a real hoodoo for them in recent years.
"Motherwell are always a tough side and they seem to play their best games against us," said Larsson. "So it is important that we get the three points and move onto the next game. We simply take one game at a time here."
