Soccer Football - Champions League - Group H - Celtic v Real Madrid - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - September 6, 2022 Celtic's Callum McGregor with teammates look dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Rio Ferdinand believes that last night’s Champions League experience will be priceless for the Celtic squad.
The morning after a 3-0 defeat is never easy at any level but there was more to last night’s match than the scoreline.
Football is often filled with fine margins, last night Celtic had more than a few ‘what if’ moments but the bottom line is that for 45 minutes they matched the best side in Europe in every area of the match.
Extending that to 90 minutes is the task for Ange Postecoglou but over five more Champions League the hoops boss can measure the development and progress of his squad.
Picking up on Ferdinand’s comments on BT Sport last night, Glasgow Live reports the former England defender saying:
I don’t care who you are. Playing against the champions it is always going to a be a difficult game. Real Madrid have the experience, the stardust and quality.
They understand how to win on the road. so it was always going to be a uphill task for Celtic.
But for those fans up there – having played up there myself in Champions League football. I actually got beat on one occasion – it is an unbelievable place to go and play football.
I am sure any of the Real Madrid players who haven’t played there before would have left there thinking ‘this isn’t a bad atmosphere to play in’
All thoughts of fans, atmosphere and occasion now go on the back burner, on Saturday Celtic face the underwhelming opposition of Livingston needing to pick up on the domestic domination.
Next Wednesday in Warsaw they need to put their Real lessons into practise and take something from Shakhtar Donetsk to get their Champions League points collection underway.
I thought we did ok against the European champions,I’m glad we had a go at them , better to get 3 -0 and have a go rather than sit back 10 men behind the ball and still get beat 3-0 ,hail hail to big Ange.
Totally agree Jim.
Exactly Jim. Traditionally when we have taken the “pragmatic” approach against a side of that quality we’ve been beaten anyway. “Die with your boots on” should always be the footballing philosophy at Celtic.
Rio is right in what he says. Another thing to remember is that this was the first time the vast majority of that side played at CL level and there’s no shame in losing to the European champions in your first attempt even if you don’t play as well as our lhads did last night.
Vewwy pwoud,…
Stay true to yourselves Celtic, I very much enjoyed your football.
Rio’s had more careers in in England than most people have had fish-suppers! So I would always take what he says with a pinch of salt! I remember that he and his mates got roasted in the UCL in Glasgow – by the first non-Latin team to win the European Cup!