Football with soul

 

Football with soul

Celtic Park was at its ebullient and raucous best when Real Madrid came to town this week. Sports media and supporters from all over Europe heaped praise on the stadium and the wonderful supporters who fill it. One Spanish media outlet said of Celtic Park…

‘This place inspires history and greatness with its atmosphere. There is a sense that it is achieved without being plastic, without posturing. The team may have fallen down the ladder in footballing terms but Glasgow Celtic evokes football with soul.’

There was also some praise for the team which is clearly adopting a more modern approach to European football under Ange Postecoglou. Celtic has only won 1 of the past 10 UCL group stage games at Celtic Park- a 2-1 win over Ajax in 2013-14 season. There have been some chastening defeats since then from the likes of PSG, (0-5) AC Milan, (0-3) Bayern Munich, (1-2) Barcelona, (0-2) and Borussia Monchengladbach (0-2). The attitude of ‘just happy to be involved’ which developed among some fans suggested that some viewed the gap between clubs like Celtic and the so called ‘elite’ teams of Europe as being insurmountable.

Despite the seemingly emphatic nature of the defeat to European Champions Real Madrid, the score-line could have been very different had McGregor, Abada and Maeda made the most of some very clear chances. At the very top level of European football, they pay countless millions of pounds for players who don’t miss such chances and despite Celtic’s ballsy first half display in which they matched Real, they were ruthlessly picked off in the second half. Again, the Spanish media saw that this was no picnic for Real and commented…

‘Celtic Park retains its glowing and emotional atmosphere and the fans celebrated the progress of their team. Celtic is far removed from the basic style of the last three decades. Postecoglou has brought Celtic into the modernity of the game and to his credit is doing so without big stars. The team played well, with dynamism, ambition and disdain for defensive tactics. Hence, the value of Madrid’s victory. Real went through some worrying moments in the first half and was surpassed by its rival, who reached the area with ease and had several shots.’

In a week where all three Scottish sides were beaten by a combined total of 11-0 in Europe, Celtic harbour the most hope of making progress in their group. Their first half performance was as good as any produced by the hoops against a top European side in many years. The level of play and indeed, fitness required at the top level in Europe is extremely high. If Celtic could replicate that first 45 minutes over an entire game, they’d take some stopping. The fans recognised this and despite that loss of composure for ten minutes after Real took the lead, the team continued to give their all. That is why the supporters stayed behind in their tens of thousands to cheer the team from the field.

Toni Kroos, the German midfielder with Real was also positive about the young Celtic team and spoke of having to ‘survive’ the first 25 minutes of the match as Celtic attacked Real and the fans pumped up the volume. Yes, it was another defeat to another top side but the feeling that Ange Postecoglou is building something special remains strong. There are abject defeats and there are hopeful defeats; this was clearly the latter.

Celtic will undoubtedly be tested by Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland next week. The Ukrainian side won 4-1 away to RB Leipzig with Celtic old boy, Marian Shved scoring 2 and looking sharp in a classic display of counter attacking football. The result may have flattered the Ukrainians after some dreadful defending by the Germans, but Shakhtar will still present a formidable challenge to Celtic. The had 4 shots on target and scored 4 goals. Their success was built on just 37% possession so Celtic will need to be on their game. That being said, Ange Postecoglou knows the importance of not reaching the end of the second round of games with Real and Shakhtar on six points and Celtic and Leipzig on zero. So, he will set Celtic up to go and get a positive result in Warsaw.

The death of the Queen will mean Celtic have more preparation time as their SPFL match with Livingston was called off. We can have faith that Ange and his backroom team will have closely studied Shakhtar and know their strengths and weaknesses. As RB Leipzig found to their cost, Shakhtar took just about every chance they made. According to UEFA’s stats, the German side had 89 attacks to Shakhtar’s 9 and still lost 4-1. (Celtic had 43 attacks to Real’s 48) Celtic need to take the chances they create against the Ukrainians next week after fluffing some fine opportunities against Real. At this level you exhibit a ruthlessness in front of goal or you suffer against teams which do.

So, despite Celtic going down to the European Champions this week, I retain some optimism that there is much football to be played in this group and points to be won. This is the elite level of European football and Ange Postecoglou is determined that Celtic don’t just exhibit a ‘happy just be here’ attitude, he wants the team to compete and is adamant the club and fans deserve that much. He said after the game…

‘Our supporters are just outstanding and I feel the responsibility of getting this club to this level where they are competing against Real Madrid and others and doing that on a consistent basis. We’re not there yet but this is what this football club and particularly what these supporters deserve.’

Madrid proved Celtic are not there yet but there has been enough improvement in Celtic’s play to suggest that progress is being made and that excites the fans for the challenges ahead. Those same supporters will back the side with the sort of intensity and fervour that money can't buy. Glasgow Celtic still evokes football with soul.