Barcelona games were the highlight, says Celtic striker Samaras

Mar 7, 2013 2:05:00 AM

The Greek striker hopes his side can make it back into the Champions League next season after reaching the last 16 before falling at the hands of Italian giants Juventus

Celtic striker Georgios Samaras put the two fixtures against Barcelona as his highlights of the SPL leaders Champions League campaign as they bowed out at the last 16 stage.

The Glasgow giants fell at the hands of Juventus, who claimed a comfortable 5-0 aggregate win, after goals from Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella saw the Italian side through to the quarter-finals.

"I don't want to say about me, it's all about the team and teamwork, we tried really hard together to be a successful team," Samaras told Sky Sports.

"I think the highlight of this journey has been the two games against Barcelona, I think the way we played, the heart we showed was something amazing."

Samaras also stated that the Juventus games were a good experience for the younger players in the team, and that they will learn from it and come back a better team.

"I will not say [it was] tough," he added. "But it was a great experience for the lads in the team. We're a young team with a lot of talent and that’s experience.

"I think it was a great journey, everyone in the club, the players, the coaching staff and the supporters all enjoyed it from the first second to the last minute, now hopefully next year we'll be back in the Champions League.

"Playing against a great team in the round of 16, it's a big thing for us, we tried to play attacking, pressing them high like in the last game, we had a couple of chances and could have had a goal in the first half."

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