Celtic striker Adam Idah reacted to the Hoops’ 4-2 defeat against Aston Villa. However, the Irishman was taking positives from the game, with his brace leveling the score just before halftime—a sign that the Hoops had shown great character after going 2-0 down within the first four minutes.
Idah, making his first start since Kyogo’s departure, demonstrated why Celtic paid £9 million for him in the summer with his double at Villa Park—the first goals that Unai Emery’s side have conceded this season in the Champions League.
Idah’s deflected effort against Young Boys to seal a Champions League knockout playoff appears huge for his confidence against Dundee at Dens Park. Previously, he squandered a number of chances, but at Villa Park, he was prolific with two incredible finishes against Villa, who themselves finished within the top, sealing a place in the last 16.
Given the effort that Celtic put in against the 8th-ranked team in the Champions League, they left Birmingham with their heads held high, with everyone seeing exactly how the Hoops have begun to mature in Europe. And in Idah, they have a striker who can step up in the big moments, whether it be off the bench or from the start.
With the Irishman providing a reality check to those who underestimated Celtic ahead of their trip to Villa Park on Wednesday night.
He said: (The Herald),“I think that’s probably the biggest learning curve we’ve got from Dortmund.
“When you play these big teams, you might go in and get a bit timid.
“It’s a big team, but so are Celtic. We’re one of the biggest clubs in the world and I think people forget that sometimes.”
Celtic ultimately finished 21st in the Champions League table, crucially securing a spot in the top 24 and a place in the knockout playoffs. The Hoops will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, with the draw set to take place at 11 AM. The first leg will be held at Celtic Park on February 11th or 12th.
Idah’s performance offers encouragement after a stop-start first half of the season, where he failed to live up to the heights of last season. However, over the past two weeks in the Champions League, he has stepped up, and if not for some poor decision-making in defence, Celtic very likely could have emerged with a result on Wednesday—serving as a reminder of what he brings to the Hoops post-Kyogo.
