Europe brings out best of British

Celtic vs Liverpool 1966

European Cup Winners’ Cup semifinal

Liverpool won 2-1 on aggregate

Bobby Lennox, Celtic striker

The European games against Liverpool were absolutely massive and I think the Scotland-England nature of the ties made for an extra-special occasion. They were a pleasure to play in and wonderful to look back on. My goal at Celtic was a bit of a scramble — not the best I have ever scored — but one of the most important at the time.

There was a big Celtic crowd at Anfield, which made it really exciting, though I have very disappointing memories from that game because I scored a goal in the last minute but had it scratched. If my goal had stood we would have been through to the final at Hampden Park — it was really disappointing.

Leeds vs Celtic 1970

European Cup semifinal

Celtic won 3-1 on aggregate

Jack Charlton, Leeds defender

I remember the game at Elland Road because we made a mistake to let them score. A ball came through and Paul Madeley tried to trap it. It just ran under his foot and Celtic were in.

The goal was a toe-poke in the end that just crossed the line and was a real soft one to concede, especially in such a huge game. We could have equalised but missed a few chances, then we went up to Glasgow for the return leg, which was a game I’ll never forget. There were about 132 000 fans in Hampden Park and the noise was incredible. Billy Bremner put us ahead on the night and level on aggregate but Celtic proved too strong and went on to win comfortably.

I think the crowd that night is still a record for games between English and Scottish teams. I thought at the time that I’d never get the chance again to play in front of so many people. It was incredible.

Chelsea vs Man City 1971

European Cup Winners’ Cup semifinal

Chelsea won 2-0 on aggregate

John Hollins, Chelsea midfielder

As the scores showed, they were both very tight affairs. They were European games, the prize was so big and we didn’t want to lose to another English side — we wouldn’t have minded losing to a foreign team but to be beaten by one of your own would have been hard to swallow.

It was different because we adopted a more continental and cautious approach than in domestic games, which were played at 100 miles an hour. Our manager Dave Sexton told us to play it steady and cool and not get too carried away — we weren’t to give anything away early. Derek Smethurst tucked one into the corner with his left foot to give us a first-leg lead at Stamford Bridge.

Dave gave us the same instructions for the away game and, although I can’t remember precisely when we scored, I’m pretty sure Keith Weller, who’d come on as a sub, was involved. City threw everything at us after that because they needed a couple of goals but Dave’s tactics worked a treat and we managed to hold out.

Wolves vs Tottenham 1972

Uefa Cup final

Tottenham won 3-2 on aggregate

Alan Mullery, Tottenham midfielder

It was very strange. It didn’t feel like a European final because we’d already played Wolves twice in the league. You expect surprises in Europe but we didn’t get any from them and they didn’t get any from us. Still, the games were outstanding, with tremendous crowds. At home I was fortunate enough to get our goal — the Wolves keeper Phil Parkes flattened me as I went for the header but the pain was worthwhile.

Afterwards I ended up doing a lap of honour on my own because the lads ran off and left me with the cup when people started pouring on to the pitch. I couldn’t find my way off and went round with thousands of supporters. It turned out to be my last game for Tottenham.

Liverpool vs Tottenham 1973

Uefa Cup semifinal

Agg 2-2; Liverpool won on away goals

Ray Clemence, Liverpool goalkeeper

The fact we were up against Spurs was a bit of a double-edged sword. In those days there was an element of the unknown every time you played a European side, so at least we knew what we were up against. The problem was they knew all about us as well. It was nerve-racking, just as you’d expect, but didn’t feel like a normal European tie. It was a semi, but it was built into an English final.

It’s the excruciating tension which sticks in my mind, playing out the final few minutes at White Hart Lane clinging on to that away goal. It wasn’t pretty but it was intense pressure. The type of game in which you love to play.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest 1978

European Cup first round

Nottingham Forest won 2-0 on aggregate

Garry Birtles, Nottingham Forest forward

It was a great occasion — different to the pressure of the league. Brian Clough had given us the belief we could never lose to anyone — even Liverpool, who were winning absolutely everything at the time. I can remember Phil Thompson had said he didn’t think a one-goal lead would be enough for Forest to take to Anfield for the second leg.

Well, we went 2-0 up at home and I couldn’t resist a pop back. I went past: ‘Will two be enough, Phil?” It was stupid because I could easily have ended up with egg on my face. I was just a young whippersnapper coming into the game and for some reason I had a go at one of the greatest defenders in Europe. But we went to Anfield under unbearable pressure and secured a 0-0 draw. It was a massive shock to everyone except us because Cloughie just wouldn’t let us accept defeat. There was no way we were going to lose.

Leeds vs Rangers 1992

European Cup second round

Rangers won 4-2 on aggregate

Stuart McCall, Rangers midfielder

It was labelled the ‘Battle of Britain” but the games themselves were a bit strange because no away fans were allowed. Gary McAllister and I got round the bans though by swapping tickets to ensure our families and friends saw both games.

After we won the Ibrox leg 2-1 our supporters felt we hadn’t done enough and the English papers all said Leeds would destroy us down there. I remember Archie Knox and Walter Smith pinning one particular article by John Sadler from the Sun on the dressing-room wall. By saying it was merely a question of how many Leeds would score Sadler probably motivated Ally McCoist and Mark Hateley to get our goals.

I wonder what the psychological impact will be for London’s losers. Winning gave us the confidence to go on a long unbeaten run but defeat was such a blow for Leeds that their season suddenly went downhill and they mounted a terrible defence of their title, finishing 17th.

Celtic vs Liverpool 1997

Uefa Cup first round

Agg 2-2; Liverpool won on away goals

Rob Jones, Liverpool defender

Looking back, it wasn’t really your archetypal European tie; both sides knew exactly what to expect from the other. The difference was, when we played them at Anfield, Roy Evans told us to get tight to them and make sure they couldn’t play. Normally, it would be the other way round and you’d go out looking to run all over visiting teams.

It was as if the two games had been staged on neutral venues rather than each other’s home grounds. People might have thought we’d batter them at Anfield, but they were never going to let that happen.

Both of the games were fairly frenzied and the atmosphere in Glasgow particularly was something a little bit different — their supporters never stopped singing for the whole 90 minutes up there. —