Former Bayern Munich CEO and German football legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has explained how Celtic’s thumping at the hands of Borussia Dortmund could come back to haunt them.
The Hoops were embarrassed in Germany a few weeks ago, shipping seven in an evening to forget at Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund led 5-1 at the break, teaching Celtic a lesson that manager Brendan Rodgers is taking too long to learn.
The boss must ensure his side bounce back from Dortmund a few weeks ago and Aberdeen yesterday against Atalanta on Wednesday evening. It is easier said than done, though, versus last season’s Europa League winners.
One thing the bhoys cannot afford to do midweek is ship a plethora of goals again.
Especially given the number of teams in the league phase table and the volume of fixtures in the initial round of the competition, Rummenigge believes goal difference will be key.
“I am convinced that the fans will gradually appreciate the new league phase more and more,” he said (RecordSport).
“You have to look at the goals scored, for example. Like us (Bayern Munich) scoring nine goals against Dinamo Zagreb and Borussia Dortmund scoring seven goals against Celtic.
“Goals now play a huge role for the first time. The old group phase was usually very predictable. And the worst thing in football is boredom.”
Although they will want to avoid another European hammering on Wednesday, the Hoops can’t rely on games the ilk of Atalanta away to secure their points in the league phase.
Matches against the likes of Club Brugge, Young Boys, and Dinamo Zagreb will ultimately decide the Bhoys’ European fate this term.
Regardless, though, the supporters who have spent hard-earned cash to travel to Bergamo won’t want an all-too-familiar story to play out.
