Celtic’s 90-minute performance against Bayern Munich was a heroic display of bravery and resilience. The Scottish champions led 1-0 thanks to Nicolas Kuhn’s second-half strike, but the German side came from behind with just one minute left to win the tie on away goals.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel made eight saves as Celtic repelled everything Bayern threw at them, until they didn’t. Schmeichel praised his teammates, saying “football is a cruel game sometimes” and that he was loving every minute of the match, despite their heartbreaking loss.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was effusive in his praise for how his side performed, calling it an “outstanding” display with no fear. He praised his team’s discipline, pressing, and ability to be compact and tight at times. Despite being down 1-0, Celtic never looked like conceding the goal they did.
The victory proves that Celtic have made significant progress in four months, from a humiliating 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund to this thrilling play-off tie against Bayern Munich. Rodgers sees the foundations of a competitive side and plans to make Celtic a seasoned club at this level next season.
Rodgers’ unswerving plan is to make Celtic a team that can go and hurt big opponents like Bayern Munich, with the Continental experiences gained from this match helping his players improve for the rest of the season.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2lj1eq5erzo