From reckless to realistic: Celtic are no longer the cavalier team who pressed the self-destruct button in Dortmund … and a sense of pragmatism has given them at least a glimmer of hope for Munich
While the new Champions League format has brought a much-needed freshness to the tournament, there will be a familiarity about what unfolds as it reaches the latter stages.
Barring something remarkable happening in the coming weeks, the semi-finals will be contested by four sides from Europe’s five major leagues.
That’s been the case in each of the past five editions since Ajax’s run to the last four in 2019 threatened to upset UEFA’s apple cart.
The dance may be different, but come the tournament showpiece at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31, the finalists will need no introduction.
For clubs like Celtic, defining what success looks like in Europe’s elite competition at the moment is a moot point.
Accruing 12 points to reach the knock-out phase for the first time in a dozen years certainly ticked one box. That now seems like an achievable goal at the outset of each campaign.
Brendan Rodgers has changed tactics since that 7-1 humiliation against Dortmund
Celtic captain Callum McGregor looks dejected as his side narrowly lost out to Bayern
But, unless the draw for the play-offs is then extremely kind — perhaps being paired with a side like Brest rather than Bayern Munich — progression to the round of 16 is always going to be the tallest of orders.
The Bavarian giants’ wage bill is over three times that of Celtic. They routinely attract some of the best players on the planet, like Harry Kane.
So there will always have to be a sense of realism about the chances of big clubs from lesser leagues getting the better of them.
Success for Celtic, then, is surely being the best possible version of themselves on and off the field, and seeing how far it takes them.
Despite losing by the odd goal in three to Bayern on Wednesday, there was solace for their supporters in the manner of the defeat.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were second best, without question, but they were not taken apart.
When Kane struck a volley to double the visitors’ lead early in the second half, you feared a rout was on the cards and that the second leg would be a formality.
There’s now more about this Celtic team in such moments, however. Unlike in Dortmund last October, two goals didn’t quickly become three, then four and five with the final tally a humiliating seven.
Celtic have learned from that humbling experience — the manager, the players and their supporters.
There’s an appreciation of the need to be more cautious against superior opponents, to play percentages, to hang in there and give yourself the best possible chance of causing an upset.
Celtic travel to the Allianz next week with just a trace of a chance of winning the tie. But the fact is, they are just about still in it. That might be seen as progress.
For those who were in attendance, that dark night in Dortmund must have felt like the rerun of an old horror movie.
First time around under Rodgers, Celtic shipped seven in Barcelona and Paris and lost five to PSG in Glasgow.
The Northern Irishman’s domestic dominance came with a question mark over his tactics when facing Europe’s elite.
His insistence in going toe-to-toe with sides laden with world-class talents seemed like an act of self-harm… and it had fans watching through the cracks in their fingers.
He seemed just as unrepentant in Signal Iduna Park last October as he had been after those earlier hammerings on the road.
The accusation that his refusal to budge tactically was taking a flamethrower to Celtic’s slim chance of prevailing was legitimate at the time. But it no longer feels applicable.
Starting with a highly-disciplined goalless draw against Atalanta in Bergamo, Rodgers has tailored his side’s approach to suit each opponent.
In Dortmund, his side chased lost causes, played as individuals and emptied spaces for the home side to exploit. It was the epitome of how to lose a match in the Champions League.
On Wednesday, against another German giant, they went against their natural instincts. They were compact and cautious.
They surrendered territory, defended as a unit and made the visitors work for any openings. They lost the game yet earned admirers for showing guts and tactical acumen.
Alistair Johnston almost grabbed an equaliser late on in the first leg of the play-off
‘After Bayern Munich got the second, Celtic played with the desired bravery and kept fighting,’ said former Celtic striker Chris Sutton.
‘There was plenty of desire and resilience and more belief in the final third.
‘Celtic have given themselves a chance. At 2-0, I thought Bayern Munich were going to absolutely run away with it.’
Truthfully, it was no hard-luck story. Adam Idah was in an offside position and standing in Manuel Neuer’s eyeline when he let Nicolas Kuhn’s strike in the first minute run underneath him.
Offside is offside.
Nor could any complaints be offered when Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled that Dayot Upamecano had got a toe on the ball before felling Arne Engels in the second half.
The one minor criticism of Celtic was that they didn’t make the most of their few half chances. Daizen Maeda’s inability to hit the target after beating Manuel Neuer to a slack back pass was a case in point.
Yet the Japanese star’s opportunist goal with 11 minutes remaining, his 22nd of an outstanding season, has certainly put the cat among the pigeons.
Had Alistair Johnston’s strike a few moments later been anywhere other than straight at Neuer, Rodgers’ players might well have claimed an unlikely draw.
While the final 2-1 score suited the Germans, Celtic will take heart from other statistics.
Bayern predictably enjoyed more possession — 56.9 per cent versus 43.1 per cent — but the visitors only had one more total shot on goal (10-9), with five on target compared to Celtic’s two.
Seven corners apiece also spoke to a proper footballing contest. Bayern should finish the job in front of their own fans next Tuesday, but they will be wary of the fact that this recalibrated Celtic side have structure, spirit and nothing to lose now.
‘The most important thing in these type of games, when you’re playing one of the best sides in the world, is not to let them out of sight,’ said goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
‘We showed a lot of character to get back into the game. It’s going to be difficult to win in Munich — we’re under no illusion of that — but you never know.
‘We were against one of the best sides in the world. You are always going to have to defend — what you need is a little bit of luck and we didn’t have much of that tonight.’
