Sir Rod Stewart should be more than proud of his Celtic Football Club. Although the Bhoys in Green were eliminated late in the play-off second leg in Munich, they put in a very strong performance in a 1-1 (0-0) draw and caused the six-time title winners more problems than expected.
It was to be a big party in red and white - 75,000 spectators in the Allianz Arena were full of anticipation and expected a clear victory for their FC Bayern over the Scottish champions. Some of them were dreaming of a similar resounding victory to the one Borussia Dortmund celebrated against Celtic in the league phase. At the time, the Hoops were thrashed 1:7. But coach Brendan Rodgers and his team had learnt the lessons from that defeat at BVB and presented themselves differently in the weeks and months that followed on the international stage. Just like in the last 20 minutes of the first leg against Bayern, when they came very close to drawing level and only an outstanding save from world goalkeeper Manuel Neuer prevented the draw.
Unsurprisingly, Celtic coach Rodgers fielded the same team in Munich that had been on the pitch for the final 20 minutes of the first leg. Jota came into the team for Idah, with Schlupp replacing Taylor at left-back.
And the maths seemed to work out. Celtic played strongly against the ball and combined skilfully going forward. And created chances.
McGregor narrowly missed, then a shot from Kühn was cleared just off the line by Guerreiro - Bayern goalkeeper Neuer was already beaten. And finally, Maeda shot past the right-hand post.
Bayern struggled for a long time to create chances against a cleverly defending Rodgers side. It was only shortly before the break that things got really dicey for the Bhoys for the first time: Kane hit the crossbar from eleven metres.
It was the same picture after the break: Celtic stood firm defensively, defended well and switched quickly. After a cross from Stanisic in front of the Munich penalty area, Daeda flicked the ball to Kühn, who then slotted home from the bottom left in front of Neuer for a not undeserved 1:0 lead (63').
Bayern, for whom Kane had to stay in the dressing room after the break due to calf problems, responded to the deficit with furious attacks, but missed too many chances against the strong defence of the visitors and the outstanding Celtic keeper Schmeichel. Time was running out and just as everyone was expecting extra time, the German record champions struck. After a cross from Olise from the right corner of the penalty area, Goretzka failed to beat Schmeichel with his head. But Davies stepped up and poked the ball over the line in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Celtic defence boss Carter-Vickers' attempt to save the ball came too late and the referee blew his whistle shortly afterwards.
The Celtic players slumped to the turf in disappointment, while Bayern cheered exuberantly in front of their fans. Once the initial disappointment had subsided, Kühn, Jota and co were celebrated by the Celtic fans who had travelled with them. The underdogs had at least kept the title favourites on the brink of elimination.
Coach Rodgers was also positive after the match: ‘I'm very proud of the team, they put in a fantastic performance. The players put everything into this game and made it very difficult for Bayern. We also played some really good football at times. We started well, had our chances, defended well and pressed well at the right times. We've developed further compared to last season and have improved even more this year. I'm really excited to see what this team can do in the future,’ said the coach.
And Bayern player Leon Goretzka said after the final whistle: ‘I don't know if it was surprising if you look at the first leg. We played against a team that really has what it takes. Without the goal we conceded, we could have made it a bit easier for ourselves. But the last six days and the three games were simply about getting results and we've done that. That's why we're very happy about it.’
How rock icon and Celtic fan Rod Stewart digested the Hoops' late exit from the top flight is not (yet) known. The singer, who provided the best entertainment with two TV interviews on the sidelines at Celtic Park last Wednesday, appeared in front of the television with his son Alastair - and in a Celtic jersey - before the game. However, it can be assumed that the Munich lucky punch in stoppage time did not necessarily put the Stewart family in the best of moods.
However, Sir Rod had already emphasised last week how proud he is of his club. ‘This team has had a better run in the Champions League than many others before, at least as far as I can remember,’ he had aptly put it on Wednesday - before the two games against Bayern. It can therefore be assumed that Rod will be even more proud of his Bhoys in Green after yesterday's game and performance.
To conclude this text, allow me to make a small comment on my own behalf: I've been a Bayern fan since the 1970s, and a few years later - during a visit to Celtic Park - I became a Celtic supporter. Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I was annoyed at an FC Bayern goal - believe it or not. But Celtic deserved at least extra time after that game, whether it would have been enough for a big surprise in the end. As a Celtic fan, I agree with Sir Rod and am simply proud of this team, which has shown that the gaps to the top teams in Europe are notnear as wide as they once were. Celtic can leave the top flight with their heads held high. As a Bayern fan, all I can say is: just bring this damn pot home.
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