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Nicolas Kuhn savours Celtic Champions League experience that reduced loved ones to TEARS

Celtic star Nicolas Kuhn celebrates
-Credit: (Image: SNS Group)


Nicolas Kuhn has revealed his family and friends were bawling their eyes out as the German savoured an epic Champions League debut.

Celtic star Kuhn was on top form and grabbed an assist as Brendan Rodgers' red-hot side stormed to a stunning 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava - their biggest victory in the competition. Kuhn's loved ones watched on from the stands as the £2million January signing from Rapid Vienna soaked up the famous Parkhead atmosphere.

He beamed: "It was amazing, the craziest thing I've ever experienced. It was more than I expected it to be, one of the best nights I've had in football. After the anthem, it was so loud. Everyone told me they are special nights and I was really looking forward to it. Now I can say I have played in a game here.

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"A lot of friends were at the game, as well as my girlfriend. They thought it was amazing. I think they were crying. It was a bit overwhelming for the first 20 minutes because of the crowd, but after that it was fine."

Kuhn admitted he fulfilled a lifelong dream by making his bow in Europe's top competition, having previously played in the Europa Conference League.

He said: "My goal was always to play in the Champions League. I think every little boy dreams of playing in it. When I was on a year's loan from Bayern Munich, in the second league in Germany, the goal was to play in the Champions League and, one day, the national team.

"I was 20 or 21, but that was my goal and I didn't care what other people said. It's what I believe I can achieve and that was always my feeling.

"I'm so happy we got drawn with some German teams. I'm looking forward to playing one of my old clubs and I've already had a lot of people wanting to come to the game in Dortmund. The focus is always on the Champions League, so everybody will see what we did. But the focus shifts now to this weekend."

The 24-year-old has enjoyed a sparkling start to the campaign and hopes his form will eventually earn him international recognition with Germany.

He added: "I have played in all the national youth teams, so I know the structures there. I just want to show myself. I know that I'm able to play there and hopefully in the future I will. When the boys go away for the international break I sometimes check my phone. But if there's no call I'll stay here!"