As he prepares for Celtic's Champions League opener, Georgios Samaras has taken a swipe at former club Manchester City. He said: "I signed here because of the people in the club and the people around the club - the manager and the coaching staff trust me and always try to help. I really feel like I am part of a family here. I like the feel of that, it is good for my confidence and when I have confidence then I can do a lot of things.

"Celtic are bigger than Manchester City. The important thing is not the money but the mentality of the club. Look at how many supporters around the world they have; every game, whether you play against Manchester United, Villarreal or Motherwell, they always have a full house. Celtic are more than a club.

"The fans really love football here and the passion they have is unbelievable. I realised that in the home game against Barcelona a 3-2 defeat in February. The atmosphere . . . where in the world could you find better? I'm really happy that I am living this dream at the moment."