As widely welcome as the new UEFA Champions League has been, the only lasting criticism is the lack of danger.
Before Wednesday's meeting in Midlands, Aston Villa and Celtic are already sure of a place in the play-off round.
While a victory for each side could still drive them to the first eight and see them advance directly to the last 16, by short, it would barely equal the disaster.
But a sense of danger will be the only thing that is probably absent from a seismic fight between two former European heavyweight champions.
The sides have never been known before in a competitive environment. In spite of everything, the influx of foreign players may have slightly diluted what these so -called 'battle of Great Britain' mean for a costumes, they are still appreciated by supporters.
When the draw was carried out at the end of August, the possibility of justs with the German duo RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund and the headlines of the European European League was certainly exciting for Celtic followers. But Villa Away was always the one.
John McGinn will be the center of attention when Celtic travels to the south to face Aston Villa
Celta Brendan Rodgers boss was interested in landing McGinn from Hibs in 2018
McGinn had impressed Rodgers playing for Hibs and was seen as a Scott Brown successor
22 seasons have passed since Parkhead Club defeated Blackburn and Liverpool along the way to Seville. These games are burned in the psyche of the club's followers. They mean everything.
Whatever this game that is missing in terms of an advantage of doing or dying, it is certainly not short in striking stories and sub -branches.
The availability of John McGinn for this has been the subject of intense speculation since he modified his hamstrings against Leicester on January 4. Having returned to play the last 17 minutes of Sunday's draw with West Ham, tomorrow's drama will proceed with its front players front and central scenario.
Brendan Rodgers' thoughts about McGinn will undoubtedly be sought when he faces the media today, but his admiration for the midfielder barely needs to explain.
In the summer of 2018, Rodgers did not hide his desire to sign the player for Celtic de Hibernian.
The Celtic follower of a lifetime moved to Aston Villa. Six months later, Rodgers was also breaking for the border and in Leicester City's arms.
There was clearly more in his abrupt mid -season game than the club's failure to get a player. However, correctly or unfairly, the episode of McGinn was seen as the point where Rodgers and his Paymasters were no longer sight.
The Scotland midfielder has been established as an elite Premier League artist
McGinn is a great favorite of the crowd and played the role of a captain when Villa finished fourth last year
While the moment of the desertion of Rodgers back to the English Premier League shocked and enraged many Celtic followers, there was a degree of sympathy with him when it was McGinn.
The grandfather of the Jack player was a former president. The midfielder had constantly demonstrated his attributes during his time with St Mirren and Hibs and had become a complete Scotland international in 2016. Scott Brown had enjoyed a spectacular rebirth under Rodgers, but he was 33 years old that summer and would not continue forever .
Celtic made several offers for the player, but could not reach the sale price of £ 2.8 million.
Since McGinn felt like a real adjustment of the hand, this seemed to be a big mistake. Frankly, even all these years later, he still does.
History says that McGinn had been told that Celtic wanted to sign him. He was even warned that he did not participate in the European Party of Hibs to NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands, since he would be tied in the Cup. But when nothing materialized, he decided to play.
The professional always scored in a crazy 6-4 victory and initially did not feel regret.
McGinn celebrates score against Runavik after refusing to sit the European draw
Next to the midfielder Jack Grealish, McGinn was instrumental in the final victory of Villa Play-Off
“I believed in myself as a player,” he recalled. “If someone wanted me, I could try a little more difficult to get me.”
McGinn described the following weeks of assembly of speculations such as “a little situation comedy”, but Villa's Swoop was a pure drama.
Then, in the championship with Steve Bruce, the English club lit the charm, leaving the reflectors in the stadium and then took the Scottish to box seven, his favorite number, to allow him to survey the scene.
“The way I was treated was perfect,” he explained later. 'Everything about it was class. My dad knew he had decided.
However, the reality was that there was no choice of no. Celtic had not agreed the rate. Villa had. It was never a case of the head that ruled the heart.
Since then, McGinn has talked about perhaps pulling green and white one day. However, he is now 30 years old and Villa has had his best.
He scored the goal that won the Play-Off final at the end of his first season and has not stopped since then. The end of Holte loves him and a succession of managers of Villa has trusted him.
The iconic scottish celebration is a show for the view … but will it be repeated on Wednesday?
The captain during the last three years has been a constant in the rise of Villa that saw them secure the fourth place in the EPL last season and, with him, a ticket back to the tournament they won in 1982.
McGinn is far beyond the point where he needs to demonstrate something to anyone. Which does not mean that he will not enjoy the possibility of reminding Celtic why they allowed them to pass them.
It may not be the only man within the famous old terrain who has had a reason to feel underestimated at some point in his career.
Rodgers' achievements were already considerable at the point where McGinn reached his radar.
He took Swansea fashionable until the highest category through the play-offs and kept them there. While the success of the title in Liverpool was not going to be in 2014, it was the first time in a generation in which the kop had been able to dream.
After having won consecutive acute in Celtic in his first spell, Rodgers won the FA Cup in Leicester, joining Sir Alex Ferguson as the only men who won the honor on both sides of the border.
Rodgers won the FA Cup with Leicester, but found limited opportunities after his departure
He took the Foxes to fifth place twice and guided them to the semifinals of a European competition for the first time in the 2021-22 Conference League.
With three other trophies in the Parkhead trophy cabinet for the second time and Celtic invades in the Champions League for five games, the Rodgers CV is that of an elite coach.
However, he could be forgiven for wondering why other managers with less success and less experience have become so rigor in recent times.
After leaving Leicester towards the end of a forgetable final season, an offer in Saudi Arabia was as good as it was until Celtic called again. This seemed incongruous with what he had achieved in football.
I just turned 52, is in its peak as a coach. Despite the appeal, without a doubt, Celtic has, without a doubt, to be eminently capable of achieving success for one of England's great weapons. This feels like an appropriate time to underline that point. It will be a recurring theme on a dramatic night.