Source: Team_Talk
Hinkel wants Stuttgart reunion
The Germany international, 27, did more than most in getting the Parkhead side through to the play-off draw in their dramatic and historic 2-0 win over Dinamo Moscow in the Arena Khimki on Wednesday night.
Hinkel twice cleared off the line and assisted both Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras in scoring the crucial goals which gave the Parkhead club a 2-1 aggregate victory and their first away win in Europe in six years.
And after also overturning a first-leg deficit from Parkhead for the first time in their European history, Tony Mowbray's side find themselves in Friday's draw in Nyon along with Arsenal, Lyon, Sporting Lisbon, Panathinaikos and Stuttgart.
Hinkel surveyed some potentially difficult ties before admitting that he hopes Celtic get paired with the Bundesliga club who have yet to start their season.
"It will be difficult but I think Stuttgart would be good opponents for us," he said.
"I think they are one of the easier teams.
"I'm not saying anything against my former team but I think that is the case."
Hinkel was reluctant to accept credit for his part in the Hoops' well-deserved success, claiming that he was only doing his defensive duties and joking that his assist for Samaras' last-minute winner was more of a punted clearance than a searching pass.
He said: "I helped Artur Boruc twice but that was my job - it was no big deal.
"And I was happy that I could help with an assist - or maybe two assists if you count my clearance as it was not really an assist.
"But it doesn't matter, I don't care."
Hinkel admits the Celtic players felt the strain of keeping their Champions League aspirations alive going into the game.
Figures of around £12million have been reported as the carrot for
reaching the group stages of the competition this season and after the 1-0 defeat at home in the first leg, few pundits or fans fancied Mowbray's side coming through the other side.
"We had a lot of pressure on us because if we had lost the game we were out," the former Sevilla player said.
"So of course we felt the pressure but we handled it very well.
"The most important thing is that we are through and the pressure is now away.
"We controlled both games, we were the better team and because of that we deserved to win the tie."
Meanwhile, McDonald and defender Glenn Loovens will discover on Friday if they face punishment over incidents which took place towards the end of last season.
McDonald's tackle on Lee Wilkie in the May 12 SPL win over Dundee United will be considered by the Scottish Football Association's disciplinary committee.
Loovens' challenge on Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu during the Old Firm derby three days earlier will also be examined.
