AIK boss Rikard Norling refused to betray his lifelong friendship with Celtic legend Johan Mjallby to get the lowdown on the Hoops.
Norling grew up with the former Celtic player and assistant coach and they played together at AIK during two different spells.
He said: “I know Johan’s history better than anybody. We have been playing football together since we were three.
“We played in the same youth team and school team and we were together until we graduated.
“I have such a respect for Johan and I know how much he loves Celtic and AIK Stockholm.
“He cares so much for both clubs and it would be disrespectful for our friendship to go too deep.
“I would then be asking him to do something that a friend just doesn’t do.
“Johan loves both clubs in equal measure.”
Norling is chasing a hat-trick of victories in Europe over Scots clubs.
He managed Malmo when the Swedes knocked Rangers out of the Champions League 2-1 on aggregate in 2011. Then his side beat Hibs 9-0 on aggregate in 2013. But Norling insists history will play no part against Celtic in Thursday's Europa League showdown.
He said: “It is impossible to use the games I managed against Rangers and Hibernian for this game.
“The good thing is I have experience of going up against Scottish teams in European games and that will help. Hibernian were a beautiful team but they aren’t as big as Celtic and Rangers.
“When we faced Rangers they were struggling a little bit and it was just before they started to have their difficult time.
“We faced them at the right time and got the result. Against Hibs we were a good side at that moment and we were very strong.”
Sebastian Larsson, who spent 17 years playing in England, would love to stick one past former Sunderland team-mate Craig Gordon.
The 34 year-old said: “I played with Craig Gordon for a short spell at Sunderland. But it doesn’t matter if it was my best friend in goal for Celtic, I’d be happy to score anyway.”
