Celtic hero Paul Lambert has explained a key difference between the team he was involved in that got to the UEFA Cup final in 2003 and the current Hoops team.

The former Scotland international is a big admirer of the side that Parkhead boss Ange Postecoglou has built.

However, he feels Martin O'Neill's team, to which he was a key contributor, would be "too strong" for the current Celtic squad if you were to compare both sides.

Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: "It’s always hard to compare teams from different eras, although the Lisbon Lions will always be the greatest – the club was build on the foundations of their success.

"Ange has done a great job since he came in, when he inherited what could be described as a shambles, with players who no longer wanted to be at Parkhead and others who should never have been there.

"But he hasn’t won a treble - yet. Martin O’Neill also took over a side which had trailed behind Rangers [in 2000] and won a treble at the first attempt.

"Brendan (Rodgers) won an invincible treble, which has never been done before and then became the first manager in history to win back-to-back trebles.

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"He couldn’t make an impact on Europe, though – unlike Martin, who took us to the UEFA Cup final against Jose Mourinho’s Porto in 2003.

"We lost in extra time against the club which would win the Champions League the following year and that remains the biggest regret of my career.

"If pushed – and I admit I’m biased – I would say that Martin’s team would be too strong for Ange’s side.

"However, if his next two transfer windows are as successful as his last three then they can also take that next step next season.

"Celtic should win the title again and that will guarantee them a place in the group stage of the new-look Champions League.”

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