No regrets for McGeady

McGeady: Negativity around his move

Aiden McGeady insists he has no regrets about leaving Celtic for Spartak Moscow in the summer.

The Republic of Ireland winger is back in the UK as Spartak visit Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The 24-year-old's £9.5million move to Russia was frowned upon by many but he was determined to try his luck overseas, saying the critics were too narrow-minded.

McGeady even suggested that the Russian league is more competitive than Scotland's top flight.

"The reaction was not all positive to be honest, there was a lot of negativity surrounding the move," he said.

"People said it was too far away to move to, that the league was too different and it was a different culture.

"But none of those things have affected me and I have no regrets about the move in the three months I've been there. I have settled in quite well.

British mentality

"Not many people would jump at the chance to move to Russia and so many people I spoke to said they wouldn't fancy it, it was just the British mentality.

"Most players from Scotland want to move to the Premier League or stay in Scotland but me, I wanted to broaden my horizons.

"I think I am playing in a better league with the exposure of Champions League football.

"You look at Scotland, and with no disrespect to the other teams, but it is Celtic and Rangers every season, in Russia there are four teams that play European football."

Nothing to prove

McGeady believes he does not have anything to prove to Celtic fans and is not feeling any extra pressure with it being his return to the UK.

"There is no more pressure on me than any other game I play," he said. "There is added responsibility to create chances and that is the burden I have on my back in every game.

"I just hope we can take something from the game. I believe if we can add to our second half in Moscow against Chelsea, we will have a good chance.

"I want to go out and prove myself at the highest level and compete with the best players in the world, which I think Chelsea have in their starting 11 and their squad, but I want to show people what I can do," McGeady added.

"Do I have anything to prove to Celtic fans? Not really, I played for Celtic for six or seven years, I just want to keep proving to myself I can compete at the top level."