Rio Ferdinand’s verdict on Celtic lessons

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.