De Vries still hurting from heavy Barcelona defeat
The Dutch goalkeeper started as Celtic shipped seven goals in the Champions League
Last updated 6th Feb 2018
Celtic stopper Dorus de Vries says that the pain of losing 7-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League is still to heal.
The Dutch goalkeeper's first European game for the Hoops after signing from Nottingham Forest was at the Nou Camp in September 2016, where his side shipped seven goals.
A Barcelona side including the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar handed Celtic their biggest ever European defeat, with those three players contributing to all but one of the goals on the night.
De Vries lost his number one spot to Craig Gordon just a couple of weeks later, but he's now back between the sticks as a long-term knee injury to the Scotland international will keep him out for around 12 weeks.
If De Vries starts against Zenit St Petersburg a week on Thursday, it will be just his second appearance in Europe for Celtic.
He spoke at the club's Lennoxtown training complex, where he was helping promote a new two-year sponsorship by IT and communications group company Exsel Group of the Celtic Women's team, De Vries recalled the painful night in Spain.
"I think that will take a couple of years to heal up, that one, because I am a winner, I want to win,'' he said.
"My daily routine is to make sure I perform every single day.
"That's how I approach my job and it is still the sorest point in terms of I hate losing, I can't stand it.
"It doesn't matter whether it is Barcelona or Partick Thistle, you want to win. Simple.
"It was a disappointing night in terms of the result, of course. It was really hard to take on board that you conceded goals, even if you concede one it is always hard to take as a goalkeeper because you don't want to concede any goals.
"That (Barca) team on the night were out there as one of the best teams in the world, if not the best team in the world that night and everything just went for them.
"Everything dropped right for them in front of goal, they were a different class and that's what happens sometimes.''
The former ADO Den Haag, Dunfermline and Wolves stopper, who worked under Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers at Swansea, thought about moving from Celtic to get first-team football.
"You are always thinking about possibilities because for players, playing is the most important thing,'' he said.
"That counts for me as a goalkeeper as well.
"Saying that, I am really happy here. Of course you are looking for game time but it is a great club to be involved in.
"But it's been great playing to be fair, that's what you train for as a player.
"It is unfortunate for Craig with the long-term injury but it is time for me to step up and show what I can do.'