Celtic's new-found resilience bolstered by the lessons of Basle

The police message that was relayed to the 3,000 Stuttgart fans still penned in at Parkhead late on Thursday night betrayed a slightly rusty German accent. Martin O'Neill, however, has been taking lessons.

The Celtic manager understands the word for "exit" and has no intention of using it. Since he was ushered out of one door six months ago, O'Neill has spent the time brushing up. The taunts of auf wiedersehn that rang out from the fans of Basle last August are what he will use to inspire his side in Germany on Thursday.

Celtic's elimination from the Champions' League by the Swiss side was costly, yet it fuelled their hunger to progress in the Uefa Cup. Blackburn Rovers and Celta Vigo have been dismissed thanks to vital results on the road and O'Neill's team will require another in the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion.

The venue that once hosted the world athletics championships will require Celtic to match the personal bests set on those trips to England and Spain. They hold a 3-1 lead over the Bundesliga side after the fourth round, first leg, but that was the advantage they also took to Basle and no one in the east end of Glasgow is getting carried away with the idea that a Battle of Britain against Liverpool in the last eight is now a formality.

"I know German television came to Glasgow a few days ago and said there was a lot of talk about an all-British quarter-final, but they were not hearing it from me or my players," said O'Neill. "We have enough on our plate just concentrating on getting past Stuttgart."

Though Parkhead was enveloped in the kind of emotional overdose that follows such a victory after being a goal down, O'Neill's players were just as irked at conceding Kevin Kuranyi's header for Stuttgart, as they were elated at their comeback. "I hope we have done enough to take us through, but we all learned a lesson in Basle," said Stilian Petrov whose angled finish completed the salvage job.

Shaun Maloney not only filled the shoes of Henrik Larsson so well, but he even spoke with the injured talisman's cautious Scandinavian mindset, instead of his own teenage vigour. When the 19-year-old struck the goal which put Celtic 2-1 up, he ran off like an elated schoolboy, but that was not the Maloney who spoke to the press.

"I still believe we will need to get another goal in Germany if we are to finish the tie," said Maloney, who didn't even allow himself the luxury of thinking he will be facing Stuttgart in the return. John Hartson is available after suspension and the youngster is bracing himself for the bench. "I understand I will only get in when someone is injured," he said. "But you have got to take your chance when it presents itself and it was a great feeling to score."

Stuttgart will have their own suspension worries, with the red card to Marcelo Bordon after just 17 minutes, compounded by the yellows for Fernando Meira and Silvio Meissner. "There was no great euphoria in the dressing room afterwards," insisted O'Neill. "The players were inwardly pleased but they know there is still a long way to go. But I do believe we are capable of scoring an away goal."

That was as close as he came to triumphalism. O'Neill took more pleasure from the discipline and patience shown by his team – normally the German trademark. They withstood the loss of an early goal with composure, then injected enough tempo and hunger to wrest the tie back.

They also proved they are no one-man team. Shorn of Larsson, these Celtic playersfound untapped reserves of energy and desire. Bravely, Larsson turned up to take his seat among the 59,000 and offer his support despite his fractured jaw. Just as Arsenal dedicated last season's efforts to Robert Pires, so Larsson might become the inspiration in absentia. "Football is a team sport," said defender Joos Valgaeren. "There's always someone to step in and play. Henrik is a loss but we cannot use it as an excuse."