I got by with a little help from my friends
After that miss, Ajer reveals his gratitude to Rosenborg pals for keeping Celtic alive in Europe
AN HOUR after the final whistle sounded on Celtic’s Europa League group campaign, Kristoffer Ajer was still replaying footage of his incredible six-yard box miss on a loop.
The defender was, however, careful to keep enough juice in his battery to text a thank you note to an international team-mate.
From a thousand miles away, Rosenborg defender Tore Reginiussen had emerged as the unlikely hero on a bizarre night at Celtic Park, his away goal proving enough to deny RB Leipzig the victory that would have eliminated Brendan Rodgers’ side from Europe.
Around the same time as Ajer was squandering the simplest of chances to haul Celtic back into a match they would ultimately lose 2-1 to Red Bull Salzburg, Reginiussen knocked in the back-post header that drew the biggest cheer of the night in Glasgow.
How Ajer wished he had some of those killer instincts. Presented with an open goal from Filip Benkovic’s near-post flick-on, he somehow managed to get enough elevation on the ball to knock it over the bar.
‘I’ve not thanked any of the Rosenborg players yet because I have been too busy watching my big chance,’ smiled a self-effacing Ajer as he emerged from the dressing room. ‘I’m not sure how I missed because it was a great opportunity.
Watching it back, it was harder to miss than score. I’m not sure if it was going in anyway but I don’t think there are so many players who would leave that chance. ‘Luckily, it didn’t matter in the end. ‘We owe big thanks to the Norwegian team. I was aware of what was happening. It came up on the screen that they had scored to make it 1-1, so that was fantastic to see.
‘I know Tore as we’ve been in several squads together with the national team — he’s a fantastic guy and a really good goalscorer, so it wasn’t unusual for him to score such a big goal.’
Ajer started on the bench on Thursday but entered the fray after full-back Mikael Lustig suffered a lingering dizziness after sustaining a bang to the head at a set-piece.
The 20-year-old centre-back performed reasonably well out of position but, all over the pitch, Celtic looked strained in their efforts to contain a team that pressed with eye-catching speed and intensity.
Unable to match the tempo that overcame Leipzig in Glasgow last month, Rodgers’ side were unable to prevent the Austrians preserving their 100-per-cent record in the competition and yet both sides indulged in celebration at the end of the match.
If the Celtic players looked a little sheepish as they conducted a lap of honour, Salzburg looked genuinely elated. Long viewed as junior partners to Leipzig in a sponsorship tie-up with the energy drinks firm Red Bull, the Austrians were goaded pre-match by a banner hung in the Celtic support calling out the commercial association.
Marco Rose’s players may not have needed a result but they lacked no motivation and proved themselves a cut above Celtic, easing to the win that saw them finish with double the points tally of the runners-up.
‘Salzburg are a really good team and pressed us hard, but we want to perform better than that,’ admitted Ajer (right). ‘The main objective was to go through from the group, so we are happy we have done that. But when you lose a game there are always mixed emotions.
‘When you play for Celtic you always want to be at the highest level possible but, when we came in to the Europa League and saw the group, we understood it would be really tough.
‘We have had some help from Rosenborg but across the six games we have had some really good performances.
‘That was the main thing, just to get through. Our objective was to have European football after Christmas, so to achieve that is brilliant.’
The knockout stage of the Europa League does not get underway until February but Celtic will find out their opponents in tomorrow’s draw at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon.
Unseeded for the round of 32, Rodgers’ team will face one of 15 opponents from a list including English sides Arsenal and Chelsea.
For former Liverpool boss Rodgers, there would be an obvious appeal at being drawn against either of the English clubs but he professes no preference.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ he insisted. ‘Those would be brilliant nights but it’s exciting whatever happens. We are in the draw, so we’ll see what it brings.
‘I’m sure we’ll get a good side. When that time comes in February, we will be in a better place. We’ll be a bit fresher and hopefully back up to strength.
‘It’s great for Scottish football, great for us and the staff. Year-on-year we are achieving different things in Europe. ‘I think everyone looked at this group and saw it as tough, yet we’ve come through it. ‘To finish with nine points over the course of the six games — we played some really good games, some not so good.’ Rodgers drew some criticism for effectively de-prioritising Europe when he sent out an under-strength team in Germany just a few days before a Betfred Cup semi-final against Hearts. Celtic lost that match 2-0 but the subsequent visit of the Bundesliga side showcased the Scottish champions at their dynamic best. ‘To get out of this group was a big achievement,’ continued Rodgers. ‘Leipzig and Salzburg are Champions League teams. Leipzig had been above Bayern Munich in the table, so that shows the level of achievement coming from a league like ours.
‘We want as many Scottish clubs as we can in European football. Thankfully, we have gone through and we are representing the nation as well as ourselves.
‘We are very proud to do that and we will give our best.
‘We are certainly not perfect but we are improving and the guys are getting experience. Now, in the next stage can we go a stage better than last year?’
As the clock passed the nineminute mark on Thursday, the Celtic support sang in support of striker Leigh Griffiths, who is taking a break from the game as he deals with personal issues.
The striker wasn’t to be left out as the post-match plaudits were delivered, either. It was Griffiths’ late header that sealed the openingnight victory over Rosenborg.
‘Each of the goals were important,’ added the manager. ‘All the victories added to the nine points. Leigh played his part, absolutely. He set us on the road.’
The main objective was to go through, so we’re happy to have done that