Brendan Rodgers was awestruck at Reo Hatate’s sublime pass to substitute Adam Idah that forced the winning goal to put Celtic into the Champions League last-16 play-off with a game to spare.
The Hoops left it last as unfortunate Young Boys skipper Loris Benito put the ball past his own keeper under pressure from Idah after Hatate’s defence-splitting pass. The finish was a the bit of luck Celtic needed after Arne Engels missed a penalty and Kyogo had goals ruled out for offside and a foul in the build-up.
Daizen Maeda was also sent off late on but Rodgers said: “The winning goal… we get a little bit of luck with the final finish, which we deserved because of our first half, but when you actually trace it back… the composure in the 85th minute of the game to take the ball from the keeper, work the ball side to side, create the space on the side and then what a pass by Reo. It was absolutely incredible. I don’t know what incredible is in Japanese but it was absolutely unbelievable.
“And then you have to see the game out. We were down to 10 men so you adjust, 5-3-1. And the boys were absolutely amazing so it was a special night for us as a club. We talked about the maturity of the team and missing the penalty didn’t rock us. Arne has been brilliant on penalties but the keeper made a great save but we stayed calm and focused back on the game.
“It doesn’t matter when it comes – winning is important. It was an excellent first half performance. We were so good in the game but that bit of luck was missing because or penetration as so good and we got in some great areas and got the goals but something was given against us. We were such a threat and pressed the game really well.
“And then as you would expect at Champions League, the opponent came out and were going to have a bit of the ball. They were going to adjust at half time. But we had to stay strong and keep the maturity and we had that mentality to keep going and going.”
Rodgers also praised Kasper Schmeichel, on the day he signed a contract extension, for a superb double save as the Irishman now looks forward to the final game at Villa Park.
He said: “The biggest players make the big contributions in the big games – that’s why we want him here. He’s been absolutely first class on and off the pitch for us, Kasper. But in big moments he’s got those saves in him and is one of the best shot-stoppers in world football.
“Our first objective was to qualify and we’ve had three wins, three draws and a defeat which is a great return over the course of the season so far. So we just have to recover. We’ll miss Daizen but we can go to Villa Park and look to try and play to the level we can and it’s a great stadium so we look forward to it when it comes.”