PERHAPS it is the continental way, but Celtic coach Wim Jansen is not one for talking up a storm - or even a shower - but nor is he interested in hiding from the truth.

His reaction yesterday to the UEFA Cup draw, which paired Celtic with Liverpool and had Parkhead fans all over the country taking deep breaths, was honest to a fault. ''We will have to improve between now and then to have a chance of going through,'' he said.

That would have been the view of most of his team's supporters, although they might have couched it in less considered terms. They would not have quarrelled with his other points, either.

''It will be a hard test for our team and we will find out if we are ready for it. Of course, given the choice, I would have picked another team to meet at this stage,'' he added. ''They are a very good team and it will be a very big game for us. I think it will also be a good game to see.''

Jansen intends to watch the team from Merseyside before the opening leg at Parkhead on September 16, when the tie will inevitably be hyped as Scotland v England all over again, the first time since Rangers beat Leeds United in the last ''Battle of Britain'' in the Champions' League in 1992.

Craig Burley, the one player in the current Celtic side who has had competitive experience against Liverpool, on numerous occasions with Chelsea, was equally praiseworthy of the Anfield side, but not so much as to be pessimistic. ''It came as a surprise to us when we heard on the training ground, ''he said, ''but we believe we have as good a chance as anybody in the competition.

''We are quite pleased, in fact, because it will not be a game of long balls. It is also sometimes more difficult to play against a team from abroad, and although I may know them better than most of the players here know about Liverpool and their players, I am sure they will know what we are about, too. It will be nice for me to go back to England for a game. They have good players and are a good team but we believe we can win.''

He had no great luck playing against them for Chelsea at Anfield and can recall a 5-1 drubbing, although he has happier memories of a 1-0 win there.

''If things don't go well for them early on at Anfield, the crowd can get annoyed and they can get discouraged. More important is that we keep our form going until that game, because our confidence will be high if that is the case.''

If any Celtic men presumed that the Liverpool folk would be rubbing their hands in presumptuous anticipation, they would be wrong.

''We could have done without it at this stage of the tournament,'' said Liverpool manager Roy Evans. It could be a tough tie for Celtic fans as well because they could find themselves locked out of the second leg at Liverpool, who are not allowing away supporters in the Premiership at their ground while the Anfield Road end is being redeveloped, with the only concession being for FA Cup ties because of the competition's rules.

A spokesman said: ''We won't be able to make any sort of decision until the beginning of next week when we have had time to discuss the matter with UEFA and Celtic.''

Depending on the first-leg result, Celtic could bring 15,000 fans south for the clash, bearing in mind the sort of following they've had in recent testimonials in England.

Liverpool, therefore, must consider the implications of any ban that could see thousands of Celtic fans travelling without tickets.

Defeat for either side would be a shattering blow to their pride under the spotlight of the entire country, and a financial disaster, too.

Celtic general manager Jock Brown said that the club would have to wait and see what the details of the arrangements were but did not rule out special large-screen broadcasts at Parkhead of the second leg if it proved necessary.

That may be unlikely as live coverage is almost certain to be the case for both legs, in any case.

Back on the football front, Evans said: ''It's a fabulous tie, but more one for the fans. It will be so full of passion for both sets of supporters.''

The clash also rekindled memories for Evans, who was a reserve player at the time, and Liverpool fans of the one previous occasion the two sides were thrown together in European competition, in 1966, in the semi-final of the Cup-winners' Cup, when Liver- pool got through.

q the #3m transfer of Celtic striker Jorge Cadete to the Spanish club, Celta Vigo, has been finally completed and another eventful saga in the happenings of the Parkhead club, following the soap operas involving Paolo Di Canio and Piere van Hooydonk, is at an end.