Brendan Rodgers delivered a tongue-in-cheek reaction to Celtic’s Champions League knockout draw, joking that the Hoops “got the easier one” after being paired with Bayern Munich.
Celtic fans were braced for a blockbuster tie after finishing 21st in the league phase, with only Bayern or Real Madrid as possible opponents. When asked about the draw, Rodgers responded with a typically sharp one-liner before praising his players for earning their place in the knockout round.
“Yeah, got the easier one, didn’t we?,” he joked to the press via Celtic TV.
“Listen, it’s brilliant.
“We’ve earned to get to the play-off stage, the players have been outstanding over the eight games and that qualifies us to play one of these top teams.
“We look forward to that when it comes.”
The first leg will take place at Celtic Park on either February 11 or 12, with the return leg in Germany a week later on February 18 or 19. The final fixture details will be confirmed on Friday evening, but it’s still unclear whether or not UEFA will allow Celtic to take travelling fans to the match. Hopefully that issue can be sorted out soon.
While Rodgers’ comment was clearly made in jest, Bayern remain one of the tournament favourites, boasting a squad packed with world-class talent, including Harry Kane, Leroy Sané, and Jamal Musiala.
Despite the daunting task ahead, Rodgers and his squad have already exceeded expectations in the competition, claiming big wins against RB Leipzig, Young Boys, and Slovan Bratislava. Now, they will relish the underdog tag as they prepare for another massive European night at Celtic Park.
