As Celtic prepare for their Champions League showdown against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, former Hoops star Jeremie Frimpong has weighed in on the team’s chances. Speaking ahead of the match, the Dutch international gave an optimistic assessment, suggesting the game is finely balanced.
“It’s eleven men against eleven, and the best team will come out on top,” Frimpong told RecordSport. “That holds true for Celtic’s visit to Dortmund, and right now I’d say it’s a 50/50 game that either side could win.”
While some might be surprised at Frimpong’s confidence, especially considering Dortmund’s reputation, his comments come after a difficult week for the German giants. Borussia Dortmund suffered a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Stuttgart last Sunday, leading some to question if they are still the force they were last season, when they made it to the Champions League Final. They recovered on Friday and beat Bochum 4-2 after an early scare where Dortmund went 2-0 down.
Frimpong acknowledged the changes Dortmund have undergone, noting key departures and signings. “Yes, in the summer, they sold international striker Niclas Füllkrug to West Ham. But they brought in Serhou Guirassy, who scored 28 goals for Stuttgart last term, and Maximilian Beier, who found the net 16 times for Hoffenheim. They also added midfielder Pascal Gross and defender Waldemar Anton, who were both in Germany’s Euro 2024 squad.”
Despite these arrivals, the former Celtic full-back clearly believes the Hoops have a fighting chance, even though most might lean towards a Dortmund victory, particularly with Celtic playing away in one of Europe’s most intimidating stadiums.
Frimpong’s Short Celtic Career
Frimpong, who moved to the Bundesliga himself just 18 months after joining Celtic, knows what it takes to compete at this level. His £10 million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen was one of the most significant moves in recent years for Celtic, and he’s since gone from strength to strength. Last season, he was part of a Leverkusen side that went unbeaten in the domestic league, lifting the title to the surprise of many.
Celtic certainly face a tough task in Dortmund, but Frimpong’s belief in his former club will give fans hope that anything can happen on the night. Despite Dortmund’s mixed form and the weight of expectation on their shoulders, Celtic’s chances can’t be ruled out.
While Frimpong may see it as a 50/50, many will see the odds skewed slightly in Dortmund’s favour. However, football is full of surprises, and Brendan Rodgers’ side will be hoping to pull off a big one on Tuesday night.
