Armstrong still believes that Celtic can qualify for last 16
Midfielder insists defeating Bayern and finishing second in group remains target
Stuart Armstrong firmly believes finishing second in Group B is still attainable as Celtic prepare to welcome Bayern Munich to Parkhead tomorrow.
Armstrong played the last half an hour of the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock in which Celtic equalled their own century-old unbeaten record.
The midfielder described Celtic as being in “a good moment” after beating nearest rivals Aberdeen 3-0 last midweek and then emulating Willie Maley’s 1917 team by extending their unbeaten run to 62 domestic games on Saturday.
Armstrong, though, accepted the performance against Kilmarnock was below the level expected, but stressed confidence was high prior to facing Bayern Munich. Despite already suffering heavy Champions League defeats by Bayern and Paris Saint-german, the midfielder claimed Celtic have ambitions beyond ensuring they finish third and drop into the round of 32 stage of the Europa League.
“If we can win on Tuesday night, then I don’t see why second place can’t be achievable at all,” he said. “We have to aim as high as possible,” Armstrong added. “Anything is possible. We do not want to put a label on where we want to end up. We take each game as it comes, as boring as it is. I know everyone hates it when players say that, but it is true. We do not want to think this is where we want to end up, we just need to try and take as many points as we can.”
Celtic currently stand on three points after an excellent away win against Anderlecht while Bayern, who lost 3-0 to PSG on match day two, are on six points. They defeated RB Leipzig 2-0 on Saturday to go top of the Bundesliga for the first time this season with a fifth successive win since Jupp Heynckes returned for a fourth spell as manager.
Celtic were much changed against Kilmarnock, and, whiletheyrestedregularssuch as Scott Brown and Dedryck Boyata, a hamstring injury sustained by winger Patrick Roberts means he will miss tomorrow’s clash. But Bayern will also be without Thomas Muller and Franck Ribery and have doubts over Kingsley Coman, who missed the Leipzig match.
“I am sure they have very good replacements,” said Armstrong. “We don’t want to focus too much on them. Okay we will do our research and be focused, but we will focus on ourselves. I am sure, whoever they put out, they will be a very strong team.”
When equalling your own 100-yearold unbeaten domestic record, it shouldn’t really matter the manner in which it’s done.
But there were grumbles around Celtic Park on Saturday as the home team threw away their lead and dropped points at home for the third time this season.
Perhaps some of the anguish evident among supporters had more to do with fear of what might unfold in front of them tomorrow, when Celtic return to Champions League duty. While Kilmarnock played in red on Saturday, Steve Clarke’s side are no Bayern Munich.
Bayern visit Celtic Park with memories of their dismantling of Celtic 11 days ago still fresh.
Saturday’s draw with Kilmarnock provided little insight into how Celtic might line up against the Germans. On the evidence of the last meeting, however, it might not matter who Brendan Rogers selects – and his options, already curtailed by injury to key defenders, are now further reduced with winger Patrick Roberts ruled out with a hamstring injury. He lasted just half an hour on Saturday.
Bayern warmed up for tomorrow’s return meeting with a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig in Munich. Earlier the same day, Celtic stumbled on their way to equalling their own domestic record for unbeaten games set by Willie Maley’s side between 1915-17.
It is a feat that deserves to ring out through the ages – and will. There was little sense of celebration, however. The stadium announcer did try to valiantly summon up a response. Moments after the final whistle he felt the need to remind those remaining – and many had already drifted off into the evening – to congratulate “Brendan Rodgers and his Invincibles” on “equalling another piece of history”. They received a rather perfunctory reception.
But Rodgers, pictured, later stressed that his players should feel proud. Whatever they do now in their career, this is something that can’t be taken away from them. The run encompasses the entire length of Rodgers’ spell as manager. Indeed, somewhere in Norway perhaps even Ronnie Deila was feeling a degree of satisfaction.
He was, after all, in charge of what stands as the first unbeaten game of the 62 – a 7-0 victory over Motherwell in May 2016.
Leigh Griffiths’ well-taken strike set Celtic on their way just before halftime after getting to the impressive Eboue Kouassi’s long ball just before Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie Macdonald. Griffiths’ ninth goal of the season highlighted one of Rodgers’ dilemmas ahead of the Bayern assignment – who to choose to play up front. Moussa Dembele is fit again and might be preferred given his physical attributes.
“It is always nice to reach history like that,” said midfielder Stuart Armstrong, who was sent on shortly after kilmarnock’ s well-worked equaliser from Jordan Jones.
“It is something you can look back on when you are finished and be happy that you were part of it. The occasion itself was a bit disappointing. To get just one point when we were looking for all three.” It’s guaranteed to be less low-key tomorrow. “It is special here at the best of times but Champions League nights it is a different occasion entirely,” said Armstrong. “We had a big game at Pittodrie during the week, a fantastic performance there, and sometimes it is difficult to come off the back of a performance like that but Tuesday is another occasion to impress, entertain and hopefully get something out of the game.”
Killie, meanwhile, lapped up the appreciative applause from their own fans after winning a fifth point in three successive away games in Glasgow. Jones’ goal on the hour was a tribute to his perseverance. After seeing a 20-yard shot bash back off the post he remained composed enough to play a one-two with Rory Mckenzie before finishing coolly beyond Craig Gordon. Defender Stephen O’donnell insisted Kilmarnock should not be denied credit because
Celtic made six changes to their team. “They rested boys during the week as well against Aberdeen and won 3-0, pretty comfortably by all accounts,” he reasoned. “Celtic and Rangers have the squad to have two very good elevens.
“[Tom] Rogic, is he any weaker than Armstrong? It is hardly a weaker team. The back four have rotated all season, so it is probably the strongest team they could have played.”
O’donnell struggled to put a finger on what exactly Clarke has done to change the side’s fortunes. O’donnell made the point that they often played well under Lee Mcculloch, who was sacked last month, only to be undone by misfortune.
“It’s hard to say,” he said. “Obviously he [Clarke] has been in a couple of weeks and been working on the shape.
“The old manager didn’t do much wrong. We just weren’t winning. We had a lot of close shaves when we could have won games.
“At the end of the day you’re judged on results but the new manager has come in and as it naturally does gives everyone a new a lease of life.”