Alistair Johnston knows Celtic need to put the brakes on a man so fast he’s known as the Roadrunner if their Champions League journey isn’t to hit the buffers against Bayern.
But the full-back insists the Hoops have built up enough of a head of steam themselves in Europe to believe they can match the Bundesliga giants step for step. Johnston is preparing to go toe-to-toe with his Canada international team mate Alphonso Davies on the flank after yesterday’s last 16 play-off draw pitted Brendan Rodgers ’ side against Munich.
Davies earned the nickname in Germany due to his blistering pace and dribbling ability and Johnston reckons his rapid rise from Vancouver Whitecaps over the last six years has been every bit as impressive. Voted into the world’s best XI before he even turned 20, Davies has already lifted the biggest honour in European football as well as five Bundesliga titles, four domestic cups, the UEFA Supercup and FIFA Club World Cup.
He’s just one of host of superstars in Vincent Kompany’s squad. But Johnston isn’t one for shirking a challenge. And the 26-year-old is adamant Celtic will tackle the Bavarian behemoths head on thanks to a growing belief that they belong on the big stage with his pal Davies.
He said: “It’s not a ton of fun going against the speed and the technical ability that he has! But there’ll be some good banter. He came through at Vancouver where I was born. We never actually played together or anything like that.
“But he’s the captain of our national team. I’m kind of a part of that leadership group, so I try to help him out in any way possible. He’s a really good lad and been thrust into the limelight from a very young age.
“He went over to Bayern Munich when he must have been 18, and he was in the world’s best 11 at the age of 19. So look, the guy’s accomplished everything already, and he’s born 2000. It’s frightening!
“It makes me feel old. But he’s a top player, top guy, and he’s the captain of our national team for a reason. He’s a massive part of that Bayern Munich team as well. It won’t be easy, especially if he is playing on my side. But you look through their squad, it’s top, top players littered throughout the entire line-up.
“Whoever’s playing, we’re going to be ready for it and ready for a really difficult match. Hopefully we can give them a proper match, especially at Celtic Park, so we can go into that second leg with a lot of confidence and still in the tie that we can potentially cause a massive upset.
“So then that March international window, maybe I can have a little bit of bragging rights to bring back.”
Johnston’s first taste of Champions League football brought some humbling evenings against Atletico Madrid and even this season Borussia Dortmund. But the 26-year-old says the Parkhead side have proved in backs-to-the-wall draw away to Atalanta and again fighting back from an early 2-0 deficit at Villa Park that they belong with the cream of the continent.
He said: “You go down 2-0 at Villa. It was easy for us to have capitulated. But the guys stayed strong and truly believed. Let’s tighten it up at the back but let’s find a way to create something going forward. Let’s pose a bit more threat to them.
“And when you stick to the game plan and you truly believe that we do belong at this level, I mean, we can show that we can play. We’ve proved that throughout this campaign. Again we’re going to have to do that against Bayern Munich. And it’s another level altogether, knockout football now.”
It’s not just Davies Celtic need to be wary of. The Hoops’ backline will be charged with stopping England skipper Harry Kane and behind him the German genius that is Jamal Musiala among others. Johnston isn’t kidding himself on at the size of the task – especially after facing Ollie Watkins and Aston Villa in Wednesday’s 4-2 defeat in Birmingham.
Johnston reckons Kane is another level on top. But he hopes Adam Idah has now proved he too can mix it with the very best after his double at Villa Park – a venue where Kane hit a blank earlier in the competition.
He said: “Numbers speak for themselves with Kane. One of the top strikers in the world, one of the best goal scorers of this generation. He’s a top forward and I think we got a little glimpse of that with Ollie Watkins.
“You could probably make an argument that obviously Harry Kane maybe is the next level, even above Ollie.
“But those top tier forwards, they pose a threat. They’re constantly pulling off his shoulders and picking up really dangerous spots. And they do the hard work too at this level.”
“Adam had a great night on Wednesday. What he was giving us in terms of just his ability to battle up front. He was still putting his body in and maybe winning a throw in out of nothing.
“It’s moments like that where instead of it just being wave after wave of Villa. We’re getting up the pitch and it’s just giving you a base of something to build on.
“It was massive for him to get his two goals. I can see how much it meant to him.
“Hopefully it will help kick him on. We’re going to need goals from him. It’s as simple as that. And he’s capable of it. He’s got all the physical tools.
“And I know that we’ve seen that in glimpses since he’s come up here. So now he’s going to get a full chance to get a real good run of games here. And, yeah, we’ll see what the big man can provide for us.”