He said: "Sometimes you can fall into thinking, 'technically they are more gifted than us'. Then you look at the game again and think 'who's better than [Aiden] McGeady, [Scott] Brown or [Scott] McDonald in terms of real technique, keeping the ball and using their imagination?'

"I was pleased with that. The game itself was won on guts and determination but also with ability. In any game of football, the more you've got of the ball the less they can do with it. You've got to be brave on the ball." Last season it was AC Milan who ousted the Parkhead side at the last 16-stage, but extra time was required before the eventual champions could get the winner. Strachan insists they are wiser because of that.

"We're playing against possibly the most experienced side in European football but it was good there last season and most have got a year's more experience now. For some like McDonald and Brown it's new but they are adapting quite well."

As part of his ongoing education, Brown will line up against several of the Milan players for the third time in two months, following the match at Celtic Park and Scotland's Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy at Hampden.

"It has been great experience for Scott. When you are playing at the top level you bump into these players all the time. There are top players in European games and international games with different countries and at different clubs but they seem to know each other like the best of buddies because they play that often at the top level."