The sight of the Celtic fans packed into the Westfalenstadion hours before kick-off hit home the club’s level for Luke McCowan.
But the performances on the pitch in Germany didn’t. Celtic might have been thumped 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund last week in a Champions League chasing but the midfielder is convinced the Hoops ARE still on the same level as the Bundesliga big guns.
The champions bounced back from the roasting on the Rhine with a crucial Premiership victory against Ross County in Dingwall on Sunday. But the Champions League fallout is still lingering with plenty of pundits insisting Dortmund were a cut above Celtic. The question was put to McCowan – but his answer was sharp as one of his pinged passes. He said: “I probably want to correct you because I don’t think they were a level above. I just think they were ruthless.
“We were not at it. But they’re not a level above Celtic. Celtic are the same as them. We are as big a club as them. We just weren’t at it that night. To watch how the two teams were that night probably showed us the level we need to be at.
“Regardless of playing Dortmund or playing Dundee or anybody in the league, you want to be at that same level week in, week out. The message at Ross County, at St Johnstone, the message every game is to be a Champions League team no matter who you’re playing.”
McCowan points to the performance a few days earlier in Perth, when Celts stuffed St Johnstone in a six- goal romp, where the playmaker’s perfect pitched pass helped contribute to the stunning goal of the month final goal from Adam Idah. The display was Champions League class – and that’s the benchmark for the Hoops in Europe, even if the standard of opposition is higher.
McCowan said: “When you’re 5-0 up you go on and try whatever you can to make goals and assist and do whatever. It’s about knowing you did that from the start against Dortmund and not just when you’re playing against St Johnstone.
“We know we can get to that level regardless of who we’re playing. I’m sure in the other Champions League games the performances will show that. It’s just about seeing that within the last month and knowing the training level every day is a Champions League quality. It’s knowing you need to be at that level as well. It’s been a good eye-opener in a way of getting to that level because it’s nice to feel that.”
McCowan was blown away by the Borussia build-up and it was another moment to soak in in his whirlwind start at Celtic. The £1.3million arrival from Dundee has barely had time to catch breath and he’s stood out on the pitch whenever he’s been involved – even though he plans to blend in more by ditching his bleached barnet.
It’s been a lot to take in and he was awestruck on camera when he walked out at Parkhead for the first time as a Celtic signing on deadline day. Yet Germany really was another level again. McCowan said: “The only other one was probably away at Dortmund. When I walked out at the start of the game before we got changed or whatever to see the pitch and the fans were already in.
“That’s when it hit me. I obviously don’t get to see that part if I’m probably watching games on the TV. You know the fans have been amazing but you don’t realise they’ve been there an hour and a half before kick-off. When you see that, it’s just immense.
“It’s a surreal feeling. Other than that, it’s been really calm. To be fair, I’ve just settled in and that’s what I wanted.”
McCowan has already seen enough to suggest the side won’t be blown off course in Europe by the hammering. There’s been no shouting and bawling, no dressing- room bust ups or slanging matches. McCowan added: “No, the confidence in this group is immense.
“Confidence and calmness in this group can’t be rocked. I don’t feel that in training, even after the Dortmund game. I’ve been here at this stadium when they beat us by six or seven and I know what it feels like. To feel that in a Champions League game, we knew we weren’t at their level on the night but it’s not the end of the world.
“It’s about moving on and knowing you have to work hard and grind out the next result, like we did at Ross County. The calmness is what surprised me the most. For years playing against Celtic, or Dundee derbies or whatever, there would be screaming matches before the game to get everyone up for it. It’d be like, ‘come on, first tackle, first header’.
“In that changing room it’s just so calm. It comes from the manager and the captain. Cal speaks a lot before the game and the calmness through them just rubs off on everyone. That’s been the biggest thing to learn, to stay calm, even when the games feel like there’s big pressure on them.”
Luke McCowan was speaking to promote Guide Dogs Scotland’s October’s Puppy Appeal. Celtic have a long association with the charity and is working with the charity as it works to continually promote improve access to football for all. For more information on how to sponsor or donate, go to www.guidedogs.org.uk/guide-dogs-appeal.