Celtic may be about to lose their chief executive, Peter Lawwell, while Gordon Strachan wrestles with a familiar problem starting this evening - trying to steer his club to the last 16 of the Champions League for a third successive season. The familiar din of a European night is about to descend again on Celtic Park for the visit of Aalborg, though Celtic are facing uncertainty off the park.

Lawwell was keeping a low profile yesterday following speculation last night that he was poised to be unveiled as the new chief executive of Arsenal. Celtic issued a stern statement last night, the intent of which was to kill stone-dead any further mileage in the Lawwell story, though many believe it may be too late.

“Peter Lawwell is a valuable part of Celtic FC and remains so,” John Reid, the Celtic chairman, said. “He will continue to work with everyone at Celtic to ensure the club enjoys more success and maintains its pre-eminent position in Scottish football.”

Such resolute words, however, might not be the end of the matter. Some believe that, with a reported salary of £1million a year on offer at Arsenal - significantly more than Lawwell earns at Celtic - he is sorely tempted, and that Arsenal want him.

On the field the visit this evening of Bruce Rioch and Aalborg, of Denmark, is causing Strachan not just to salivate again at the Champions League experience, but is also posing a dilemma. Following his team's gripping 4-2 win over Motherwell on Saturday, the Celtic manager has somehow got to work out whether to restore Aiden McGeady and Shunsuke Nakamura, arguably his two most skilful players, back into his team. Both were rested for the game at Fir Park.

Strachan also has to decide between the in-form Georgios Samaras and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for a striking partner for Scott McDonald.

“I've said before, if anyone gets the chance to become the Celtic manager, then take it,” Strachan said of the unique thrill of such occasions as this season in Glasgow. “A lot of things keep me at Celtic, but this [the Champions League] is a huge, huge bonus. The whole world is watching you in these games and I can look over the last few years and say these are nights I will never forget.

“The competition has been invaluable for me as a coach. I've learnt one or two things, but mainly that it's not as big or scary out there as you might imagine. We'll probably be the favourites [against Aalborg] but it's how we deal with it, react to it and enjoy it that will count. So far, over these past few years, this competition has been good to us.”

Strachan, predictably, wouldn't be drawn on his team, though he may feel compelled to go with Samaras, given the Greece striker's five goals in his last three games. Paul Hartley and Barry Robson will also compete for the central midfeld slot beside Scott Brown.

“I have an idea of what I want to do,” Strachan said. “I won't be deviating much from what we did on Saturday. I've made it clear to the players that we've got a big period coming up and that we would be freshening up the team with changes. I think the players are aware of what I'm trying to do.”

Strachan caused intrigue at a recent Uefa coaches conference by describing his Celtic team as “mongrel” and yesterday he partly elaborated on that theme. “I meant we've got bits and bobs - we're decent at nearly everything but not brilliant at anything,” he said. “I mean, we don't have an incredible defensive record where you would say, ‘that's fantastic!' and we don't score a million goals. But we think we are decent. If we play a certain way, we think we can compete.”

Celtic face Manchester United and Villarreal on top of Aalborg in trying to reach the last 16 for a third successive season.

Asked what achieving such a feat would mean, Strachan said: “I think it would say to a lot of people in European football that we are consistently decent. And that wouldn't be bad.”