It’s been a dozen years since Celtic defied expectation and received a Champions League recreation of this magnitude. ‘Watt’s the story, Celtic’s glory’ and all of that.
That win in opposition to Barcelona in Glasgow, secured by a younger Tony Watt, was a footballing miracle constructed on 4 makes an attempt on objective to Barca’s 18 and on 27% possession to Barca’s 73%, however there’s been nothing prefer it within the years since.
Celtic’s relevance in Europe for a decade and extra has been across the environment of their stadium reasonably than the standard of their group. Visiting gamers have showered their followers with reward for creating world class atmospheres, which was good, however virtually galling on the identical time.
Celtic shouldn’t actually need to hear what a beautiful time the good and the nice of European soccer had whereas taking part in in Glasgow – or wherever else. Once they begin saying what a distress it’s to play in opposition to Celtic then a nook can have been turned.
Perhaps that’s Tuesday night. Seeing is believing, after all. The lack of Cameron Carter-Vickers places the brakes on the optimism to a good extent, on condition that the centre-back is the one who ties all of it collectively on the again.
There’s additionally the duty of Celtic having to go up a few ranges from what they’re used to after which staying at that degree for a whole night when Karim Adeyemi, the flying machine winger, and Serhou Guirassy, the wonderful finisher, are starting to motor.
That is Rodgers’ twentieth full Champions League recreation as Celtic supervisor. There’s no marquee victory on his file, no win that reverberated round European soccer.
This could be it. Towards Dortmund, we’ll discover out extra about Rodgers’ aspect – flat-track bullies or one thing extra vital?
