Joe Hart: Celtic are going to try and do something special in Munich | OneFootball

It would be fair to assume that somewhat of an uphill task is now awaiting Brendan Rodgers and his team in second-leg of our Champions League clash with Bayern Munich next week…

Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic acknowledges the fans following the UEFA Champions League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic and Bayern München at Celtic Park on February 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Our troubles on the road in Europe have been well-documented

A 2-1 defeat at home to the German giants leaves us in a position which isn’t insurmountable by any means, but falls into the category of highly unlikely.

Our troubles on the road in Europe have been well-documented over the years, with an all too willing local mainstream media eager to stick the boot in whenever we have failed away from home soil. A 7-1 thumping at the hands of Bayern’s rivals Borussia Dortmund way back in September was a chastening evening of football, that reminded us of the level we are aspiring to under Rodgers.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores against Bayern Munich in the Champions League match on February 12, 2025. Photo IMAGO.

That domestic dominance is difficult to replicate for the Hoops in European football, especially on foreign territory. All is not lost though, and a disciplined defensive display in Munich on Tuesday night could keep us dreaming into the last stages of the tie, if it remains the same scoreline on aggregate. Super Joe Hart was working on co-commentary last night for TNT Sports and said that the Celtic players will be trying to do something special in the away leg.

‘They finished it strong. They were in the game throughout’

Post-match in the gantry, he was asked what the mentality of the Hoops squad would be heading over to Germany for the second-half of the play-off round tie, and the former Celtic star said: “Well look, both teams are well aware they are dominant domestically. They’ve got a job to do this weekend. But they’ve put themselves in a position and they finished the game strongly, which is important. They finished it strong. They were in the game throughout.

Celtic starting XI Celtic v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, Knockout Round Play-offs, First Leg, Celtic Park, 12 February 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

‘They never got away from Celtic’

“Bayern looked to assert their dominance. But they never got away from Celtic. And that little change; Adam Idah off, putting Maeda through the middle. It just changed it. It put the nerves up. A few misplaced passes to Manuel Neuer. All things, encouraging things that they’re going to focus on. Of course they are going to focus on them. Because they’re going to go there and they are going to try and do something special.”

Paul Gillespie

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