Celtic must adapt to fixture pile-up, claims Gordon

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Keeper admits it’s not easy ‘fighting on many fronts’

Craig Gordon insists Celtic will just have to deal with a relentless fixture list as they reflect on their comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Hoops are in the midst of a busy period – seven games at the back end of October-– and they came up well short in their Group B encounter against the German giants at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern skipper Thomas Muller fired in the opener in the 17th minute from close range after Parkhead goalkeeper Gordon had parried a Robert Lewandowski header before right-back Joshua Kimmich looped a header in just before the half-hour mark.

Defender Mats Hummels nodded in a third six minutes after the break to leave the Scottish champions with three points from a possible nine in Group B.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have no time to lick their wounds, with a Betfred Cup semi-final against Hibernian at Hampden Park on Saturday lunchtime.

And Scotland keeper Gordon told several broadcasters: “No (it’s not ideal), but that’s part of what we are trying to do.

“We are trying to fight on so many fronts, but it is not easy.

“It hasn’t been kind to us in terms of preparation time and recovery time between the two (games), but that’s what we have to do.

“If we want to win trophies we have to be able to bounce back from games like this quickly, recharge and go again within a few days.”

Celtic sit third in their Champions League section after three games, three points clear of bottom side Anderlecht, who lost 4-0 at home to Paris St Germain.

While it looks like the Glasgow club will have to focus on the Europa League, Gordon is positive ahead of the return game against Bayern at Celtic Park at the end of the month.

“It was always going to be difficult,” he said.

“There’s better teams than us who will be beaten 3-0 in Munich. We have to concentrate on ourselves and our performance and look to try to improve as we go along.

“We will look back and do that. We are going to try (to wound them in Glasgow), but it is a big task.

“They have got some world class players and they will be looking to go quite far into this competition and try to win it. So we know we are up against a world class team.

“We know it is going to be very difficult, but we have to try to improve and at home you never know.

John Hartson meanwhile insists Celtic made it easy for Bayern to cut them apart.

The 42-year-old, who notched 109 goals in five seasons for the Hoops, acknowledged a gulf in class between the sides and questioned whether the Glasgow giants would ever be able to bridge the gap to one of Europe’s superpowers.

Nevertheless, he believes that is no excuse for a lack of organisation and some woeful defending from set-pieces.

Hartson said: “I don’t think the first half was anywhere near good enough. Celtic struggled all night with set pieces against them. They got overrun, they weren’t organised.

“It goes to show the difference in levels between the teams; the levels Celtic are trying to get to. They may well never get to the level of a team like Bayern Munich because they were extraordinary at times on Wednesday.

“But I still think Celtic made it an easy night for Bayern Munich.”

Celtic keeper Craig Gordon insists the Hoops have to be able to bounce back as they target another successful season.