The £30m Celtic masterstroke that might just spare board's blushes and save them carrying the Stone of Shame
This time last year Peter Lawwell pretty much apologised to the Celtic support for the club’s woeful transfer window.
Last January now looks like Supermarket Sweep compared to the one just wrapped up. Back then, the Hoops dithered until the deadline but still ended up with Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn.
This time? It’s not a sorry that’s required. It’s that Stone of Shame that Homer had to drag around starkers in the Simpsons. It’s done now. Brendan Rodgers has one hand tied behind his back for Bayern Munich but knows he’s got less than 18 months left at the club and there’s no point rattling any cages. He needs to figure out a way of rattling Bayern’s cage though without Kyogo Furuhashi or banned Daizen Maeda. Jota will help but the task in hand doesn’t half look ominous.
The wild and wacky final day of the group stage left Celtic with the option of being clubbed with a baseball bat or a cricket one. Real Madrid or Bayern. Some folk call these glamour clashes. Some folk could call those folk sadists.
The Celtic board seem happy to turn up, enjoy the schnitzel, take what’s coming, pocket the dosh and hope to see everyone back here next year. Rodgers will see it differently. He might be in a straitjacket but he’ll be trying to come up with a plan to bring down one of the true giants.
It’s no mean feat. Bayern can be got at but if they turn up it could get grizzly. Celtic got out of Aston Villa the other week with their dignity intact but it was touch and go at times.
There were heavy Dortmund vibes in spells in the Midlands. There are going to be behind-the-couch periods at Parkhead this week too and the backline will need to have composure. Like Villa though, Celtic will get chances. It’s a crying shame Maeda is snibbed. This game would have been made for him as Bayern’s Achilles heel – which is more like a bunion, to be honest – is on the counter-attack.
Maeda’s pace would have been handy. But that’s why Celtic’s hopes lie with their other speed merchant. Jota will need to get his foot on the ball to give his defenders a breather.
It’s Kuhn who is the key to getting any joy against his former employers. The wide man is enjoying a stunning season. That Lawwell apology now looks a little daft given he was picked up for a snip at £3m. And this is where he can show he’s worth 10 times that figure.
Kuhn will need to put in a defensive shift and then be ready to spring when the chance comes to get out. He did it at Villa Park in that opening 20 minutes when Celtic looked on course for an almighty thumping.
Kuhn was the one who gave Villa something to think about at the other end. It meant they committed fewer players forward and the pressure was eased. Bayern boss Vincent Kompany might not bother adjusting. He likes the high-pressing, high intensity game. It’s also high risk and means they have conceded goals both domestically and in Europe.
Celtic – and Kuhn in particular – have to hang tough and try to take advantage. Kuhn is the key to making Bayern Munich feel sorry for letting him slip from their grasp a few years ago.
