Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson has heaped praise on Celtic’s performance in their dramatic 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich, highlighting the remarkable improvement Brendan Rodgers’ side has made since their humbling 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund earlier in the season.

Speaking on Open Goal, Ferguson pointed to Celtic’s defensive resilience and the outstanding performance of Alistair Johnston in particular.

“It’s important that you reference the Dortmund game, and then you can see the improvement. You’re talking about the players, I thought Alistair Johnston for me, he was unbelievable. Strong, had pace. Look at who he was up against, you’ve got to remember that these guys, they’re up against are athletes, they don’t just have the technical ability.”

Celtic’s Champions League away journey started in brutal fashion, with that heavy defeat in Germany raising concerns over their ability to compete at the highest level. However, since then, they have responded brilliantly, showing growth, composure, and tactical discipline against some of Europe’s elite.

Their battling display in Munich was a far cry from the struggles earlier in the campaign, and Ferguson’s comments reinforce just how much progress Celtic have made in a matter of months. While they ultimately bowed out of the competition, they leave with pride intact and optimism for the future.

With their European campaign over for this season, the focus returns to the league, where Celtic are 13 points clear, and the Scottish Cup, where Celtic face Hibs in the next round.

Celtic are still in the hunt for a treble this season, with the league cup already in the cabinet.