According to Brendan Rodgers, Borussia Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin would have preferred to play Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League match at Celtic Park.
The German giants eventually romped to a dominant 7-1 victory, putting the Bhoys to shame in a terrific performance.
Celtic looked miles off it from the start. They were second to every ball and simply couldn’t match Dortmund’s pace and power.
The Hoops were blown away at Signal Iduna Park, boss Rodgers even admitting after the game that his players were ‘spooked’.
Dortmund gaffer Sahin, though, who worked under the Celtic manager at Liverpool, would have rathered the game to have been played in Glasgow.
The new format of the Champions League limits teams to face each other just once in the initial phase of the competition instead of the previous twice.
Rodgers was asked if he was frustrated that he wouldn’t be able to get revenge on Dortmund at Celtic Park.
“Yeah, that’s the other side of it,” he said (Celtic FC on YouTube).
“Speaking to Nuri (Sahin) after the game, that was something that they would’ve actually preferred, if the game was at Celtic Park. As would I. It wasn’t to be.”
Celtic fans would have undoubtedly relished the opportunity to welcome Dortmund to Glasgow’s east end.
The game would have likely gone differently, particularly with the tremendous support the Parkhead faithful give their team on European nights.
The stadium was electric against Slovan Bratislava a few weeks ago and after the matchday three trip to Atalanta, familiar foes RB Leipzig are the next side to undergo the Celtic Park test.
