Brendan Rodgers insisted Celtic’s heartbreaking mixture defeat to Bayern Munich was not what his aspect deserved.
Celtic had been moments away from forcing extra-time on the Allianz Enviornment after main by means of Nicolas Kuhn’s second-half purpose which levelled the tie.
However Alfonso Davies scored within the fourth minute of stoppage time to knock the Scottish aspect out within the cruellest of how and undo what was a valiant show by the underdogs.
The Celtic boss instructed Amazon Prime Video: “It was [a suckerpunch], not what the gamers deserved particularly proper on the very finish.
“They gave a lot to the sport.
“We didn’t give away an excessive amount of, I felt our focus was good and denied them house, after which we had some high quality and nice strikes, and really had the perfect probabilities within the recreation I felt.
“An actual heroic efficiency, simply unlucky on the finish.
“It was simply such a merciless solution to not even lose the sport however to exit of the competitors.”
Regardless of dropping on mixture, their 1-1 draw at Bayern will go down as the most effective in Celtic’s latest European historical past and Rodgers, who returned for his second spell on the membership at first of final season, believes his aspect are proving to be aggressive in Europe as soon as once more.
He added: “I feel our European credibility has been restored this season, I feel we’d constructed that up from final yr, that’s my takeaway from this season.”
They will depart Munich with their heads held excessive 💚
What a efficiency from Celtic 👏#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/7jWWAsTOBM
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 18, 2025
McGregor: ‘Cruellest’ night time in a Celtic shirt
Captain Callum McGregor mentioned the late heartbreak was robust to take however praised the efficiency of his team-mates for executing an virtually good recreation plan.
He instructed Prime Video Sport: “In all probability one of many cruellest [results in a Celtic jersey], the efficiency of the gamers, they gave about the whole lot and pushed a very good Bayern aspect all the approach.
“Typically soccer’s merciless and also you don’t get what you deserve however I’ve to say I’m so, so pleased with the gamers and the way in which they performed and dealt with themselves.
“We come off that pitch with no regrets. It’s an actual, actual sore win however I feel we may be pleased with ourselves.
“It was arrange for us to attempt to nick the subsequent one as properly, and even when we needed to go to further time we fancied ourselves as properly.
“I feel anyone watching that recreation of soccer tonight would see a very good Celtic group.”
