“You dream of it as a kid, and that’s why you want to be a footballer,” Benjamin Nygren

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The Celtic Star

·24 de septiembre de 2025

“You dream of it as a kid, and that’s why you want to be a footballer,” Benjamin Nygren

The official Celtic website describes tonight’s Europa League opener against Red Star Belgrade (aka Crvena Zvezda) as ‘an electric European away match’ and it certainly won’t be one of those flat atmosphere matches you often see in the Europa League at this stage in the competition.

Head coach Brendan Rodgers of Celtic and Benjamin Nygren of Celtic Celtic Training Session and press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 23 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia: Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

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Unlike its more glamorous big sister competition the Champions League, it’s fair to say that UEFA’s second their tournament often takes time to get fully up to speed in terms of supporter engagement and atmosphere at the early games.

However tonight in Belgrade is the exception that breaks the rule. For a start it’s a game between two former Champions of Europe, Celtic and Red Star Belgrade. Additionally both clubs were involved in the Champions league last season and both really should have been there this year too, but both failed to lesser opposition in the play-offs, Celtic to Kairat and Red Star to Patos.

Zvezda stadion, Belgrade

So tonight will be just like a Champions League contest in Red Star’s iconic 50,000-seater Rijko Mitić stadium which is ‘famed for its pulsating atmosphere’ – just like Celtic Park.

Tonight sees Celtic begin their UEFA Europa League campaign against Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, and the sense of anticipation amongst the Hoops is building ahead of what is set to be an electric European away match.

The 50,000-seater Rijko Mitić stadium, home of Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) is famed for its pulsating atmosphere and tonight’s Europa League opener is sure to inspire the home support to lift the decibel levels once again.

Benjamin Nygren at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Celtic support is there in numbers, two from The Celtic Star team of writers have made the trip, and like the rest of their fellow travelling Celtic supporters they will certainly make themselves heard.

Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers, as we have already reported today, are relishing the prospect of playing in this stadium, one of the most iconic in European football. And so too is Celtic summer signing Benjamin Nygren who played wingman for Brendan Rodgers at his media conference at the stadium in Belgrade last night.

The Sweden international playmaker reckons that he and his teammates will all feel right at home in the cauldron of noise, because that’s exactly what they are used to at Celtic Park.

“I’m looking forward to it a lot.” Nygren said. “I’ve heard a lot about this place, that it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere. You dream of it as a kid, and that’s why you want to be a footballer. To play in front of big crowds like this.

“We play at Celtic Park in front of 60,000 every other week, so we know how it is. We’re looking forward to it. Myself and everyone else in the team, we have a lot of confidence. We’re Celtic players, so we know we have quality.

Benjamin Nygren at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“We’ve won the last two games and now we want to win every game going forward,” Nygren said.

You can watch his role in a rather entertaining media conference last night towards the end of the video shown below. We have already reported on everything that Brendan Rodgers had to say ahead at this media conference as he looked forward to getting down to business in the Europa League, having now put the Champions League frustrations to one side.

Watch the media conference with Benjamin Nygren and Brendan Rodgers below…

Readers of The Celtic Star and indeed all Celtic supporters joining the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and paying by direct debit will be able to claim a FREE stadium tour worth £18.50. This promotion will run from now until the 20th October 2025. Click on image to join.