Cops tried to protect me .. but Celtic fan booted me in the b@ll@cks! Says Rapid boss PETER PACULT (who still feels pain from '84).

Byline: EUAN McLEAN

Celtic v Rapid Vienna Celtic v Rapid Vienna Thursday, Kick-off 8:05pm Live on ESPN 

HE has been kicked in the goolies by an irate Hoops fan and gone up against Roy Aitken with a broken rib.

For Rapid Vienna boss Peter Pacult taking on Celtic has brought him nothing but pain.

Now, 25 years on from a notorious shame game, Pacult reckons his players are ready to give him a night to remember at Parkhead for all the right reasons.

On Thursday the Austrians return to Glasgow desperate to play down the bad blood over the way Celtic were shamefully cheated in the 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup by play-acting Rudi Weinhofer.

The Rapid star hit the deck when a bottle thrown from the Parkhead crowd landed near him during his side's 3-0 defeat.

Bleeding

TV evidence proved the missile hadn't hit him but UEFA still ordered the game to be replayed at a neutral venue.

And Pacult was the man who scored the winner at Old Trafford - before being assaulted amid shocking post-match scenes as raging fans rushed the players.

His presence in the dugout this week will do nothing to boost Rapid's chances of a civilised reception in the Europa League.

But this time he's hoping to celebrate a victory his players truly deserved.

Pacult said: "Before that game in Glasgow I broke a rib in the derby against Austria Vienna. I was injured but still tried to do my best against a defender like Aitken.

"Celtic generated great pressure and the atmosphere in the stadium was sensational.

"We had a bad day and never got into the game. But their third goal was a foul against our keeper - although 2-0 would still have been enough to put Celtic through.

"I was in a lot of pain on the pitch with my injured rib and was speaking to the club doctor when the incident with Rudi took place. So I didn't see anything.

"I didn't realise anything was wrong, I was more worried about my own problems.

"I wasnearly back in the dressing- room before I saw Weinhofer bleeding. But the strongest memory I have from Celtic Park is the disappointment of losing.

"The players had no involvement in UEFA's decision to replay the match.

"It was a nice surprise to learn we had another chance but it was a fair decision. It would have been unfair if we had gone automatically through but to make it a new game for both teams was right.

"The atmosphere at Old Trafford was so loud. I had never experienced anything like that - it was noisier than Celtic Park.

"The whole situation was a bit scary for the players and our keeper Herbert Feurer was attacked during the game.

"A supporter went through the goal and attacked Herbert before two police officers took him away.

"When I was assaulted the match was over and I was trying to get back to the safety of the dressing-room.

"At both sides of the tunnel there were policemen standing in a cordon. I went close to the policemen but got kicked by a supporter's outstretched leg in the place that hurts a man the most.

"It was a shock to get hit and I never saw him coming. I managed to get up and the police eventually took me up the corridor into the dressing-room."

Pacult's bruises and Weinhofer's alleged head wound have long since healed but the scars remain on Celtic's psyche.

And the Rapid boss hopes the fans will put the past behind them to focus on the clear and present danger his side pose to the Hoops' European hopes.

Tony Mowbray's men got their Group C campaign off to a dismal start by losing 2-1 to Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel.

Excited

But on the same night Rapid thumped Hamburg 3-0, adding to the confidence they gained from shocking Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa in the qualifiers.

Pacult said: "Everybody here is looking forward to coming to Glasgow again and we are happy Celtic are in our group.

"Austrian papers have been writing a lot about a grudge match but some players from both teams weren't even born when the first game happened. Even a lot of fans won't remember it "So I hope this match will be at the centre of things - not that old story.

"It was a sensation for us to beat Villa because an Austrian side had never knocked out an English club in a straight duel.

"Now we believe everything is possible. Every team can beat each other in this group so we need to have a big night."

CAPTION(S):

Flashpoint: Thug attacks keeper Feurer in Manchester and ref lectures McGrain