Celtic benefitting from 'upping attention to detail'published at 18:08 6 November 2024
18:08 6 November 2024
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Image caption,
Cameron Carter-Vickers (right) started Celtic's impressive win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday
Celtic are benefitting from upping their Champions League "concentration and attention to detail," says centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers.
After suffering a chastening 7-1 defeat in Dortmund, Brendan Rodgers' side have responded with a resolute draw at Atalanta and an impressive comeback win over RB Leipzig.
Carter-Vickers says last month's seven-goal humiliation in Germany was a difficult night to deal with, but the United States defender feels the team are now reaping the rewards of tightening up their European approach.
"It's our third year now in the Champions League, throughout that time we've grown in belief and confidence," he said.
"[Dortmund] was tough, but after that we've upped our level of concentration and attention to detail and that's shown in the last two games."
On Tuesday's victory over Leipzig, Carter-Vickers added: "We really wanted to put in a performance. It was a really special night.
"As players we're excited but know [qualification] isn't done yet. We showed the levels we can reach, if we can continually do that we'll be all right."
'Santa was booed last year, Celtic will roll out the red carpet come Christmas'published at 13:26 6 November 2024
13:26 6 November 2024
Kheredine Idessane BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
With Halloween and Bonfire Night both behind us, attention has already turned towards Christmas.
Santa's only got a few weeks left to get his plans in place for the annual dash round the globe. Though I'd say his stress levels about returning to Glasgow's East End have diminished somewhat.
Roundly booed at Parkhead last year when Celtic were losing at home to Hearts, the big man in the red suit and white beard will be the toast of Celtic Park this festive season.
It all speaks to Brendan Rodgers' quiet revolution that's now making a fair bit of noise.
Three consecutive Champions League wins at home? The team second in the Bundesliga sent back to Germany to think again? One win away from almost-certain qualification from the new-look format with several games to spare? Heady days indeed for Celtic.
Which makes the recovery since last Christmas all the more laudable. You don't see too many supporters turning to the seats in the main stand where the directors sit and openly barracking the board. Why would they?
The blazers took all the flack when Rodgers second coming hit a bump or two in the road but they won't get any of the credit for a bulging bank balance and a team on the park beginning to realise its true potential. The manager and players get all the plaudits.
The board, however, deserves credit on two fronts.
For having the foresight to convince Rodgers to abandon his gap year in the first place and return to a Celtic hotseat that many of his own folk didn't want him near. And then for backing him to the tune of over £30m in the last transfer window to have a proper crack at Europe.
It didn't appear to be going all that well when Dortmund banged in goal number seven just over a month ago. Turns out that was just a really bad day at the office. The general improvement curve has been upwards. Now spectacularly so.
Celtic are finally showing they belong in the Champions League. Probably for the first time in a decade. With home matches to come against Brugge and Young Boys, they have to use former captain Paul Lambert's words: "One foot in the door" of the next stage already.
Indeed, Rodgers had to stifle a chuckle when he was asked, in the post-Leipzig media conference, whether he might now be targeting the top eight and direct entry to the last 16?
"It's important to say humble," was his paraphrased reply.
If Celtic avoid defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday, they'll have gone 30 matches with just the solitary defeat. The recovery from that mauling in Borussia Dortmund's Westfalenstadion has been both admirable and instructive. A lesson was learned and Celtic appear all the stronger for it.
They can look forward to maintaining their place at European football’s top table well beyond the New Year, with that trip to Aston Villa looking particularly tasty at the end of January when neither side is likely to need the points.
As far as Christmas goes, don't expect any booing or heckling this year. They might even get the Parkhead red carpet out for Santa and his helpers. He'll be a much jollier fellow this time around for sure.
'Best Celtic display since Sutton & Larsson days'published at 12:21 6 November 2024
12:21 6 November 2024
We asked you for your views after Celtic's outstanding Champions League win and performance against RB Leipzig.
Here's what some of you had to say:
George: Magnificent display by Celtic, coming from 1-0 down and scoring three goals. Callum McGregor ran the show in midfield, and Nicolas Kuhn done the rest, he was man of the match.
Prentice: The best Celtic performance I have witnessed since the 2003 UEFA Cup final season. Defensively we were rigid, Cameron Carter-Vickers is the best defender we've had at the club since Virgil Van Dijk. Kuhn is doing an incredible job of proving the doubters of last season wrong. Dare I say we can have one eye on the top-eight...
Dave: Other than about 15 minutes in the first half, I thought Celtic dominated the game. Sure they rode their luck a couple of times but that is expected at this level. Terrific win.
Craig: It was a beautiful, magical night. From the noise at the Champions League anthem until the final whistle, the stadium was rocking and the players were at it. A memorable Champions League night that we haven't seen in many a year. Not just the result but the performance.
Ben: 60,000 fans watching Celtic dismantle a top, top Bundesliga outfit. Celtic are rightfully sitting at the top table and Celtic Park is surely a top three UCL venue.
John: Terrific. RB Leipzig couldn’t cope with our speed. The pressing for the second goal was immense. Five different players were swarming around them. Kuhn is on fire just now and Reo Hatate had his best game for ages. We bossed the second half.
Daithi: What an unbelievable performance by Celtic they showed up finally in a Champions League tie. They were clinical at passing and closing down their opponents when they had to. Kuhn was unplayable, his finish for his first goal would have been talked about all night if it was Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo who had scored. Perfect performance from everyone on this great Celtic team.
Andy: Best Celtic display I've seen since the days of Chris Sutton, Henrik Larsson and co. The game management in the second half was incredible. Only slight negative for me is Greg Taylor, he goes backwards constantly. Get to work on signing Alex Valle on a permanent deal. Now we need to consolidate this by getting three points against Brugge.
Paul: The team have matured and just keep getting better. They learn their lessons from poor performances and correct their deficiencies with good coaching, dedication and tremendous work ethic. John Kennedy needs a mention for his work and Brendan has them working now as one unit.
Alan: Outstanding performance by Celtic! A few eyebrows will be raised across Europe.
Joe: Celtic are seriously maturing in Europe now. The patience to sit and be solid, combined with the ability to play the fast flowing passing game going forward is exciting. Some of the quick interchanges of passes in tight spaces is a delight to behold. Many players were in top form and McGregor has to be one of the best midfielders in the UK. Momentum.
Celtic 'don't want to be nearly team' in Europepublished at 11:54 6 November 2024
11:54 6 November 2024
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Celtic are determined to "not be a nearly team" in Europe, says captain Callum McGregor.
The Parkhead side appear to have turned a corner in the Champions League after starting their campaign with seven points from four games.
Three of those points came in Tuesday's impressive comeback win over RB Leipzig at Celtic Park.
After fighting back from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead into the break, midfielder McGregor said the message at the interval was to "kill the game and win 3-1".
"We just said at half time we don't want to be a nearly team," the captain added.
"It speaks volumes of where we've come from, all that learning you speak about in the games last season."
McGregor hailed a "complete performance" from the side and ranked it among the best European performances he has experienced as a Celtic player.
"Against a top, top team who are at the top of the Bundesliga and renowned for coming to press and having intensity, we showed every bit of that as well," he said.
"The tempo was good, the quality was unbelievable at times, so against a really good team it's probably as good as we've been on a Champions League night."
Kuhn's 'focus on Celtic' amid reported Premier League interestpublished at 11:30 6 November 2024
11:30 6 November 2024
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Winger Nicolas Kuhn says "my focus is on Celtic" amid mounting speculation surrounding his future after a fine start to the season.
The German, who endured a difficult introduction to life in Glasgow when he joined the Parkhead side last January, took his goal tally for the current campaign to nine with his Champions League double against RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
Reports suggest the 24-year-old is attracting interest from the English Premier League, but Kuhn is not allowing himself to be distracted by the links.
"Of course I'm happy here," he says. "I haven't been here for too long, so my focus is on Celtic."
Kuhn, who is hoping to eventually force his way into the Germany national team, said it was an "unbelievable" feeling to net twice in Celtic's comeback win over Leipzig.
The forward hailed the team's response to the 7-1 defeat they suffered in Dortmund earlier this season and said Tuesday's atmosphere showed "anything is possible" at Parkhead.
"I think with every game we're growing," he added. "We come closer together. I think we've bounced back really good from the Dortmund game.
"And [Tuesday] showed we can still progress and we can do better. It's now seven points against some pretty tough teams.
"That's quite an unbelievable return with four games still to go."
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig: Key statspublished at 11:01 6 November 2024
11:01 6 November 2024
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Celtic have won three consecutive Champions League home games for the first time since November 2007, under Gordon Strachan.
RB Leipzig are the first German side to lose their first four Champions League games in a single campaign since Stuttgart in 2007-08.
Nicolas Kuhn became the first Celtic player to score two goals in the first half of a Champions League/European Cup match since Roy Aitken in October 1979, against Partizani Tirana.
Celtic last netted more goals (currently nine this term) in a Champions League/European Cup campaign in 1977-78 (13).
Kuhn has been directly involved in 19 goals (nine goals, 10 assists) for Celtic in all competitions this season - at least seven more than any of his team-mates.
The 38-year-old Kasper Schmeichel became the joint-oldest player to play in a Champions League match on his birthday, along with David Seaman for Arsenal against Schalke in September 2001.
'Immense Celtic showing they can respond to adversity'published at 11:00 6 November 2024
11:00 6 November 2024
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'Celtic fans must be looking forward to every fixture'
Ex-Celtic midfielder Scott Allan says the biggest positive his former side can take from their stellar start to the season is "how quickly they are learning from setbacks".
After an opening Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava, a 7-1 humiliation at Borussia Dortmund threatened to derail their European campaign.
But Brendan Rodgers' side responded with a gutsy draw away to Atalanta and Tuesday's comeback victory over RB Leipzig.
"Rodgers said they would learn," Allan said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "They go away to Atalanta, they put in a different type of performance.
"They were still brave on the ball and there were tweaks to how Celtic pressed Atalanta, but they came away with a valuable point.
"Then you take the RB Leipzig game, it was immense. You could go through so many players, Nicolas Kuhn, Callum McGregor, but the biggest thing for me is how quickly they're learning from the setbacks."
Allan hailed former team-mate McGregor's influence in the Celtic midfield on Tuesday, but German winger Kuhn was the standout at Parkhead.
After a difficult start to life in Glasgow, Kuhn continued his fine start to the season by netting a double against Leipzig before playing a key role in Reo Hatate's second-half goal.
On the forward's rapid rise at Celtic, Allan added: "When he first came in he was maybe a victim of the success of other players who have come in and hit the ground running - Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Jota.
"Sometimes in this city people can be really impatient with players if they don't get off to a flyer, but he had a good pre-season and those goal contributions... it really is incredible stuff from Kuhn."
'Celtic Park turning into European fortress again'published at 10:33 6 November 2024
10:33 6 November 2024
Media caption,
'Celtic Park turning into European fortress again'
After Tuesday's comeback Champions League win over RB Leipzig, Paul John Dykes of A Celtic State of Mind says Parkhead is "turning back into a fortress" in Europe.
Click here to listen to more reaction on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
'Barcelona want Valle back in January' - gossippublished at 08:42 6 November 2024
08:42 6 November 2024
Barcelona are working on cancelling Alex Valle's loan with Celtic in January, although that would mean paying compensation, as they think the 19-year-old has impressed enough with the Scottish champions to suggest he could provide a solution to their troubles at left-back. (El Nacional), external
Reports in South America have indicated Alexandro Bernabei, who has helped Internacional to fifth place in the Brazilian top flight on loan from Celtic, could be in line for a first call-up by Argentina amid suggestions that the Scottish champions were asking for a fee of £8m to make the move permanent in January (Daily Record), external
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig: Have your saypublished at 22:55 5 November 2024
22:55 5 November 2024
Following their six-goal League Cup thrashing of Aberdeen on Saturday, and a hard-fought point away to Atalanta in the previous matchday, hopes were high for this game despite Leipzig's status as top seeds.
Celtic lived up to expectations with a blistering start, but Leipzig – who are still searching for their first point in the competition – punctured their positivity with Christoph Baumgartner’s neat nod from a corner.
Celtic had lost in 27 of the 28 previous Champions League games in which they had gone behind, but they picked themselves up here.
Continuing his exceptional start to the season – 17 goal contributions in 15 games before this – Kuhn cut in from the right and curled an audacious strike in off a post.
The stadium was still bouncing when German winger Kuhn stroked in from just outside the six-yard box after Daizen Maeda’s fresh air swipe allowed Greg Taylor's cut back to reach him just before the break.
Brendan Rodgers’ side maintained their high levels after the break and were rewarded when the brilliant Reo Hatate lashed in a third and ensured Celtic's second victory of this campaign.
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig: What did the manager say?published at 22:52 5 November 2024
22:52 5 November 2024
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "We had the combination of the vibrancy and excitement in attack from the Bratislava game and then the real tactical discipline in our defending from Atalanta.
"And we really pulled that together to produce an outstanding team performance against a really, really good sides.
"I tip my hat to the players.
"Nicolas Kuhn's second goal really pleased me because you need to play with real courage to press against a side who have so much speed.
"We really stayed on it, win the ball back high up the pitch, Reo [Hatate] produces a great piece of skill, then we get a cross into the box, get those wingers coming in, it was a really nice way to finish the half.
"Some of our football second half was outstanding. Controlling and managing the game really well, our win was really deserved.
"It gives us real, nice confidence. We've discovered in the last two games we can be really competitive.
"If you told us after the Dortmund game we'd have four points from the next two games, I don't think too many people would have said we would have done that.
"It's a great next step and gives us great encouragement to go and make the play-off stage, but there is still so much to do.
"The supporters were great with how they stayed with the team, they trusted what they were seeing.
"We have to build step by step to make this a difficult place to be. RB Leipzig are a top side, they will say that was a real difficult game for them tonight.
"We have to stay humble in our work, we can't get too far ahead of ourselves. We played so well tonight, we sit in a really good place, we now just focus on our next game and see where it takes us."
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig: Analysispublished at 22:48 5 November 2024
22:48 5 November 2024
Amy Canavan BBC Sport Scotland
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When Celtic last met a German side in the Champions League on the back of a 6-0 domestic win, they were dismantled in Dortmund earlier in this campaign.
Though that was only just over a month ago, the Scottish champions appear to have taken their medicine and were much more streetwise in familiar surroundings.
Sprinting out the blocks, they did not allow their visitors to breathe at the back and swarmed in their numbers at every opportunity.
Key to that was Kuhn. The RB Leipzig academy product taught the German side a lesson with a sensational display. Playing with freedom and flair, the 24-year-old was, once again, tremendous on the right.
In truth, Celtic as a team taught Leipzig - a side sitting second in the Bundesliga - a lesson. They repeatedly asked questions and their visitors had no answers.
When Kuhn did depart to a rapturous round of applause, Hatate took over as the talisman of this tremendous side.
It’s been a long, long wait for three home wins in a row for Celtic in this competition. A 17-year wait. Through that spell, the tales of the fortress this cauldron used to be seemed a distant memory.
This brought them back to light. The Feyenoord win last season was a dead rubber; the Slovan Bratislava victory earlier this term was expected; but this was a statement. And a convincing one at that.
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig: Who impressed?published at 22:45 5 November 2024
22:45 5 November 2024
His outstanding season continues to climb to new heights.
He was the star of a special show this evening as Celtic tore RB Leipzig apart.
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Taylor returns for RB Leipzig in one change from Hampdenpublished at 18:52 5 November 2024
18:52 5 November 2024
So, the one change for Celtic following Saturday's six-goal show at Hampden is at left-back.
Greg Taylor replaces Barcelona loanee Alex Valle.
Auston Trusty also keeps his place in the centre of defence with Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Celtic can beat Leipzig if they 'play game, not occasion' - Lambertpublished at 17:24 5 November 2024
17:24 5 November 2024
Kheredine Idessane BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
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Image caption,
Celtic have four points after three Champions League games so far
Former Celtic captain and Champions League winner Paul Lambert says tonight's match with RB Leipzig is "a game Celtic can definitely win" to help them put "one foot in the door" of the Champions League knockout phase.
Lambert - who won the competition with Borussia Dortmund in 1997 - bases some of his optimism on the weekend win by his old side over Leipzig at the Westfalenstadion.
"I watched [Leipzig] on Saturday against Dortmund, and Dortmund should have won by more, if the truth be told," Lambert said. "Dortmund were miles better than Leipzig. I think they've got one or two problems with some key players out injured but they're still a decent side.
"On the counter-attack they're pretty quick. [Lois] Openda's a good player, [Benjamin] Sesko's a good player, so they've got players who can hurt you but it's a home game for Celtic and a game Celtic can definitely win if they play the way they can."
"It doesn't matter who comes to Celtic Park, it's always a tough game for the opposition because of the crowd. The lads at Celtic seem to be playing pretty well at the minute. When you're at home at Parkhead, it really works in their favour."
Lambert is impressed with the way Celtic have started this new Champions League format, gathering four points from their first three matches. The recent draw in Bergamo standing out in particular for the former Scotland star.
"It was a great point against Atalanta. I know they had some great chances and missed a few and Celtic defended strongly. That's a big point for them and they'll take a lot of confidence from that. Celtic in this moment are in a really good place."
Lambert's also well aware of the potential significance of another home win for Celtic, having already seen off Slovan Bratislava on matchday one. Should RB Leipzig also be defeated, seven points would put Brendan Rodgers' men, in all likelihood, just one more win away from the knock-out stages.
"That's what Brendan will be stressing. To win any game of football, you've got to be strong defensively. That's a must. Everything's built on that cornerstone - being strong defensively and disciplined.
"Play the game and not the occasion, that's the key for Celtic. Don't get caught up in the atmosphere, play your own game and be defensively strong to give yourself a foothold in the game. If they win, they've virtually one foot in the door of qualification."
'If I was big enough I would have admonished him a lot more' - O'Neillpublished at 14:51 5 November 2024
14:51 5 November 2024
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Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill on dealing with Bobo Balde after his handball against Lyon, and European nights at Celtic Park.