Pilot, pianist – now Moritz aims to be a Celt
Part-time pilot and occasional pianist Moritz Bauer reckons he has picked the perfect time to land at Celtic.
Comfortable winners in Stockholm on Thursday night, the Hoops head for Ibrox today knowing they are guaranteed European football until Christmas.
That is great news for Bauer, who has parachuted in on loan from Stoke City, currently bottom of the English Championship.
“Celtic is a big, big club. The team is full of internationalists. That speaks for the quality of players that we have here,” said the Austrian.
“The Scottish league might not be the biggest league in the world. But at Celtic you play for trophies, to win all the competitions that you are in and to be involved in international football.
“As a professional, that is something you don’t want to miss out on, and I am very happy to be here.”
Bauer has been out of favour with the Potters, yet the 27-year-old assures Hoops fans they will enjoy watching him in action.
“What will they get from me?
“I think they can expect dynamism and pace, someone who is always working for the team,” he said.
“I love to overlap and try to put a lot of crosses into the box.
“I am a defender, so I have to defend but I try to attack as much as possible.
“I think Celtic like to play an attacking game with lots of possession, so it should suit me well.
“Last year was a difficult year for me in terms of the national team.
“Stoke’s relegation was not a problem, but then to also not play regularly didn’t help a lot.
“My last appearance for my country was exactly one year ago when we played against Germany when we won. “After that, it was a season to forget. “Now I want to flip the page and start on a white page – or a green-and-white page.
“As for playing the piano, I will maybe have to study You’ll Never Walk Alone.
“I will learn that one slowly. I am not a Mozart or a Beethoven. Far from it.
“I just hear what I like and try to copy it.”