The legendary Celtic Park in Glasgow has seen many big games in its long history, where great victories have been celebrated and numerous magical nights have been celebrated, including FC Barcelona, who can tell you a thing or two about it
Last night, FC Bayern Munich, the German record champions, were the guests in Paradise. Celtic were dreaming of another one of those magical victories against Munich, but in the end the six-time Champions League winners were not to be denied and won the game with goals from Michael Olise (45‘) and Harry Kane (49’) - with Daizen Maeda (79') conceding a goal - in a lacklustre but thoroughly convincing 2:1 victory.
FC Bayern had the home side under control for 80 minutes, playing very dominantly in the first half in particular and not giving Celtic the slightest chance. After the break and the quick 2-0 through Kane, the visitors relaxed a little and Celtic got into the game better. When Maeda reduced the deficit to 1-2 around ten minutes before the final whistle, Bayern had to tremble once more.
Spurred on by 57,406 fanatical spectators - including rock legend Sir Rod Stewart - the Bhoys in Green pressed for an equaliser. Alistair Johnston had a great opportunity shortly before the end, but Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved the narrow victory for Munich.
Many in Paradise would have liked to see Brendan Rodgers' side go as hard as Sir Rod did in two interviews with CBS Sports and TNT Sports before kick-off.
Speaking to CBS anchorman Peter Schmeichel, he admitted that he's had a few drinks. ‘I've had a couple, as you can probably see,’ the 80-year-old grinned into the TV camera. And CBS football pundit Jamie Carragher, who played 508 games for Liverpool FC between 1996 and 2013 and twice became English champion with the Reds and won the Champions League in the legendary final against AC Milan in 2005, could hardly contain his laughter in the studio.
But Rod did get round to explaining why Celtic is so close to his heart. ‘Everything about Celtic is just special, the charity projects they have, everyone loves each other here, the fans are fantastic. It's a club like no other,’ he said proudly. Carragher then elicited a promise from the singer that he would take him to the next away game if the Hoops progressed against Bayern. ‘Listen,’ Rod shouted into the microphone, “if we get through, I'll fly you anywhere in the world”.
But Sir Rod didn't quite believe it. ‘It won't be easy tonight, but it's possible,’ Sir Rod oracled into the TV cameras. ‘We've beaten Barcelona here, AC Milan and Manchester United. If we don't make cock upsfuck up, we've got a chance... Did I say cock ups?"
Nevertheless, if Celtic were to be eliminated by Bayern, Rod would be very happy with the team's performance. ‘This team had a better run in the Champions League than many others before, at least as far as I can remember,’ he said again with pride. Only to break off in mid-sentence and shout to the fans singing around him: ‘Shut up, I'm talking here!’
The reporter then wanted to know whether Celtic had a chance against Bayern. ‘Of course they have a chance, otherwise I wouldn't be here’. At the end of the interview, Schmeichel wanted to know whether Rod would also be attending the second leg in Munich. ‘No, I'm going on tour, I'm going to Atlantic City,’ explained Rod, who will certainly be watching the game in the Allianz Arena there too. Finally, Carragher encouraged Sir Rod to sing a duet of Maggie May with him - the end of an outstanding interview.
Und das nächste sollte dann sofort folgen. Von CBS ging es für Rod dann eine Station weiter zu TNT Sports. Dort warteten bereits Emma Dodds, Owen Hargreaves, der 2001 mit dem FC Bayern die Königsklasse gewann, und Stilyan Petrov auf den gut gelaunten Sänger, der dann in diesem Gespräch noch einen drauflegte. Zum Abschluss des Interviews tanzte Sir Rod ausgelassen zu den Gesängen der Fans, um gleich danach mit hoch erhobenem Mikrofon von dannen zu stapfen und seinen Platz auf der Tribüne einzunehmen. Up The Hoops!
And here's what Brendan Rodgers and Vincent Kompany had to say after the game
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