Kasper Schmeichel praises Celtic teammates after win over RB Leipzig

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·7 November 2024

Kasper Schmeichel praises Celtic teammates after win over RB Leipzig

38 year-old Celtic hero Kasper Schmeichel became the joint-oldest player to play in a Champions League match on his birthday sharing the record with David Seaman who started for Arsenal against Schalke in September 2001.

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League – League Stage – Celtic Park (back to front, left to right) Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi before the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park, on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Kasper, the Birthday Bhoy

“If you are going to spend your birthday away from your family, to do it here [Paradise] and to have a result like that is worth it,” the Danish stooper quipped when speaking to TNT Sports after Wednesday evening’s scintillating 3-1 victory over Pot 1 side RB Leipzig.

OneFootball Videos

"We showed what we're capable of" 🎆 Birthday boy Kasper Schmeichel highlights the durability of Celtic as their run of strong form continues... 🎙️ @DannyJamieson 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK
– Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Schmeichel more than played his part in the win. Marco Rose’s side had three shots on target in Glasgow’s East End with their most important chance coming three minutes prior to Reo Hatate pouncing on Peter Gulasci’s error which sealed a memorable victory in the Champions League.

Diving down low to his left, the 109 capped Danish veteran prevented Cristoph Baumgartner grabbing his second of the game, and crucially, Leipzig’s equaliser.

Celtic Glasgow RB Leipzig Champions League Glasgow, 05 11 2024, Celtic Park, Football, UEFA Champions League, Matchday 4 , Celtic Glasgow 3 RB Leipzig 1 RB Leipzig Christoph Baumgartner 14, RB Leipzig scores with his head to 0 1 Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel 1, Celtic is disappointed. Photo Imago (The Celtic Star)

Celts have propelled to 15th in the table

Brendan Rodgers’ resilient Celts have propelled to 15th in the table following the Hoops’ finest display in Europe’s elite club competition since an astounding 2-1 victory over Barcelona 12 years ago, today. Arguably, it is Celtic’s best performance in Europe since Neil Lennon guided his side to a first win on Italian soil against Lazio at the Stadio Olympico in November 2019.

On the match, Schmeichel was full of praise for the monumental effort that went into gaining all three points. “Yeah it was a big performance, I think we showed what we are capable of. We have had a few really, really good performances and when you look at the week we have had, going again, going again, going again, that is a sign of a top team. Proud of the boys, I thought they were excellent.”

We had to re-find our feet

He said, “They had a little spell, eight to ten minutes after they scored the goal where we had to re-find our feet and then as soon as we did that and got the goal we never looked back.”

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Nicolas Kuhn’s first half double against his former side meant that the German winger became the first Celtic player to score two goals in the first half of a Champions League or European Cup outing since Roy Aitken in October 1979. Billy McNeill’s side defeated Partizani Tirana 4-1 at Celtic Park in the first round of the competition.

Nine goals and 10 assist for Nicolas Kuhn

Kuhn now has 19 goal involvements to his name so far this season [nine goals and 10 assist]and Celtic’s no.1 only had glittering comments to make about him.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“He was incredible, Nicolas is a top player, he shows it week in and week out, but what we love is the work rate. A lot of what people see is the goals and assists but his work rate was massive tonight. You need that against top teams, I think when we are on form like that and working as hard as we were then we are a very difficult team to play against.”

Conor Spence