Celtic FC need to show some ambition and tie down Kuhn, Maeda and Johnston on long term contracts. We simply cannot afford to lose the qualities that they bring. If we have any ambition, those 3 are who we should be building this project around. The 3 of them are next level.
As for the defeat in Munich, it was obviously heartbreaking. I’m gutted for the players more than anything. Everyone of them gave absolutely everything last night and the 1st leg as well. Although I could actually see their goal coming the last 10/15min or so as we were clearly knackered and it showed as they kept pushing us back more and more.
You would be very naïve to think we are as good as the likes of Bayern after both matches, as apart from the 1st half of the 1st leg, Bayern were nowhere near as good as they can be. We needed to catch them on 2 bad days to give us half a chance and we did. We were near or at our best over both ties while they weren’t any where near theirs.
But what we showed over both legs is that if we can make opponents lives difficult and play at our best, we can cause problems for any team in Europe. The players need to take enormous confidence in this as none of them looked out of place. They will have received huge respect throughout the footballing world after last night.
Looking back over both ties, we had rotten luck. All big decisions went against us. Kuhns disallowed goal which i still feel was a ridiculous decision. Was no where near in the line of sight of Neuer when the ball was struck. The ball was in the net by the time he’s in front of Neuer. The corner that Kane scored from was never a corner. Never touched a celtic player. And the penalty decision although i feel was the right decision, it was inches from being a penalty.
Another incident from last night just before they scored, Maeda went down with what looked like a head knock and the ref waved it away. Are they not supposed to stop play for that? I might be wrong as it may have been nothing as no replays showed the incident.
But when so many decisions and luck go against it was always going to be near on impossible to progress. I want to give a special mention to 3 players in particular. Schmeichel, Johnston and Schluup. Get Schmeichel signed up for another 5 years. I don’t care if he will be pushing 50. Joking, but what a GK he is. I’m actually embarrassed at myself for scoffing at his signing at the start of the season.
Johnston for me, is in the top 5 Rbs in the world now. That was one of the best individual performances in a Celtic top i’ve ever seen. He just keeps getting better and his consistency is next level. There is no weakness in his game and if McGregor hung up the boots now, he is the one player who should be handed the armband.
And what a fantastic performance by Schluup. He had Olise is his pocket virtually the entire game and never put a foot wrong. There’s no way we hold them at bay that long if Taylor started. That’s not me being cynical, i’m just stating the obvious.
Everyone else, subs included were incredible and should be immensely proud of themselves and when the dust settles, hopefully they will have gained huge confidence and an invaluable experience in how to deal with the elite teams.
Now huge credit to Rodgers as well. He wanted to put our name back among the elite of Europe and although we are still some way away from where he will want us to be, he should be pleased and proud also in what he has achieved. He has restored our pride in Europe, which has taken a battering in the last decade or more. I think the biggest thing he will have taken from this campaign will be how to set up and prepare for better teams after the Dortmund debacle. He seems to have learned massively from that.
And finally, i really hope the Board show the ambition Rodgers and the fans deserve in the summer. We are only a few players away from that next level. And show some ambition and keep hold of Kuhn, Maeda and Johnston and no team will fancy themselves against us next season. Chins up and we go again, lads.
Written by DerryTim February 19 2025 10:21:11
