CHRIS SUTTON
THE disco lights were new but the murder of Leipzig on the dance floor felt like a European night of old for Celtic the other night.
That was the performance we have been waiting for from Brendan Rodgers’s side in continental competition this year.
I know I was a bit dismissive about the lights back in the summer when the team was crying out for a centre back.
But I actually quite enjoyed the pre-match spectacular. It was a bit different.
Then again, so was the performance. When the fans were walking away from the ground on Thursday night, it was the sparkling show on the pitch they were talking about rather than the illuminations.
Celtic have had to take the criticism at times in Europe this season. Going out of the Champions League to quite possibly the worst team in the groups is still a major opportunity missed.
The displays in Salzburg and Leipzig were dismal.
But fair play, the performance against the Germans in Glasgow was CELTIC LEGEND WRITES EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOU outstanding. There were a few hairy moments late on but there are always going to be times when you need to hang on when you are playing the top sides.
It might sound silly but even if Kevin Kampl had scored with his effort that hit the bar late on, I’d still think it was an encouraging display.
Holding on for the victory was outstanding. I must admit I didn’t see it coming. Celtic have clicked in to gear domestically but this was always going to be a huge test.
Leipzig might have been missing a few key men but they are still a proper team, who are bang in form.
Celtic had a few out of their own, including their captain, a £4.5million midfielder and their most natural goalscorer.
They got the job done and it was one of those games you had so many good performers it was near impossible to pick a man of the match.
Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney, Ryan Christie, there were a few candidates.
You have to admire the resurgence of Christie. When Rodgers was talking a few weeks ago about having too many players you’d have thought he would have fallen into that category.
Now the club need to get him in a headlock.
What has impressed me most is his work rate. Everyone knew Christie was a nice footballer but on Thursday night you saw his willingness to do the defensive work.
Christie has been like a new signing for Rodgers but the likes of McGregor are priceless to this Celtic team.
He has really excelled in the absence of Brown.
McGregor is worth his weight in gold to his boss as he has the intelligence on the pitch to perform to a top level wherever he’s asked to play.
Managers love that. They also love players like Tierney.
He sets a high standard but I think Thursday might have been his best performance for Celtic. The terrific goal aside, he was up against a real talent in France Under-21 international Nordi Mukiele and came out on top.
Celtic need to kick on now. They can still get out of this difficult group. Salzburg might have maximum points but they are not there yet.
The fact the Austrians, Celtic and Leipzig could all end up on 12 points means there’s no concerns about a Red Bull stitch up later this month. All Celtic can do is it take care of their own business against Rosenborg in Norway then set up a shot at Salzburg.