They left with plenty of plaudits but not a place in Friday’s Champions League last 16 draw.
Celtic saw their hopes of progression end in the cruellest of fashions as Bayern Munich escaped extra-time thanks to a scrappiest of stoppage-time winners to draw 1-1 on the night and go through 3-2 on aggregate, with domestic rivals Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid lying in wait.
But on Tuesday night’s evidence, Bayern’s chances of making the final in their own stadium this year appear remote and it was Brendan Rodgers‘ side who earned all the credit for their brave display in Bavaria. And Vincent Kompany was left in no doubt that his team got lucky, both in how they played and the manner of their winning goal deep into injury time. Ultimately, that they managed it is all that really matters, although Record Sport has looked at how the big name pundits saw the second leg action.
Owen Hargreaves
“Was that relief? Big time. They obviously dominated but Celtic were brilliant in the beginning. After showing Bayern way too much respect in Glasgow, they really went for it and they played brilliantly. They were rally good with the ball and deserved to score. But when you have that much pressure and possession – look how many shots they had – it’s hard for Celtic to get out.
“That’s where the goal comes from. Alphonso Davies, he just gambles. He wins the ball in a brilliant area and it leads to the goal but credit to Celtic. If you’re going to go out, that’s how you go. You go down swinging. they really went for it and I thought they played exceptionally.”
Alan Shearer
“That is a great save (from Kasper Schmeichel), I think it’s Carter-Vickers, he is just trying to get that ball away Alphonso Davies is there to block it. Agony for Celtic. It goes into the back of the net. They don’t deserve it. They don’t deserve the hurt Celtic. You talk about leaving it late and heartbreak for Celtic. I know they have created a few chances this evening without playing anywhere near what they can play, Bayern Munich.
“But, when you leave it that late, the hurt and the pain for Celtic and their fans, you can feel it and for Brendan Rodgers. He can be very, very proud of his players. Big clubs and big teams, as we often say, when they don’t play well, they somehow have to find a way and Bayern Munich have done that. Even though they have left it so, so late.”
Chris Sutton
“Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good and that’s what Bayern Munich were this evening. I’ve got to say in terms of Celtic away performances in the Champions League over the last sort of 25 years, that was up there with the best against the mighty Bayern Munich. They had real control in the game, the back four defended brilliantly and the back four stayed in tact. Callum McGregor was excellent in the centre of the park. They just maybe faded as we expected they would in the second half but that is a real sickener, the nature of the goal. The save from Kasper Schmiechel and Davies getting a little bit lucky.
“And Vincent Kompany, blimey, how jammy can he get? How jammy can Bayern Munich get? Brendan Rodgers ansd the Celtic players, how will they view this? They know they had opportunities early on they should have taken/ This is a real sickener for Celtic but they can be proud.”
James McFadden
“Celtic suffered out there and they proved people wrong. People watching that will go ‘Celtic are a really good side’. Everyone involved will be gutted at the minute because they will feel they could have won this tie. That tells you how far they have come.”
Clarence Seedorf
“It’s a bit about the tension as well. When you get to the last minutes of the match there are tensions on both sides.
“When they (Bayern) are having more of the ball, they (Celtic) might have been thinking they have to come out quickly. The goal came when they were very fast to come out. This is part of the learning experience as well, but they should be really proud.”