“Everything is still open. It only takes another goal,” Nicolas Kühn

The Celtic Star

·15 February 2025

“Everything is still open. It only takes another goal,” Nicolas Kühn

Everything is still open. It only takes another goal and we will be drawing. We are going to give everything,” Nicolas Kühn…

Celtic starting XI Celtic v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, Knockout Round Play-offs, First Leg, Celtic Park, 12 February 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Nicolas Kühn was bitterly disappointed when his stunning goal inside 30 seconds against Bayern Munich was ruled offside for Adam Idah blocking Manuel Neuer’s view. Kühn and all of the Celtic supporters inside the stadium and watching at home thought we had done the impossible and put Bayern on the backfoot from the word go, ultimately giving ourselves a fantastic start in the tie and rattling the away side’s confidence.

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It was a case of close but no cigar on that occasion – as it always seems to be against the bigger sides throughout the years – and Rodgers himself must have been so gutted to see that one chopped off for a minor imposition. We never managed to get to the half-time whsitle without conceidng and that equally stunning goal from Michael Olise had been coming, as we had soaked up a tremendous amount of pressure for 10 or so minutes beforehand.

Celtic fans display tifo before kick-off Celtic v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, Knockout Round Play-offs, First Leg, Celtic Park, 12 February 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Kühn’s strike early on proved that this Bayern team can be got at and that will give the whole team and support hope heading over to Germany for the return leg in the Allianz Arena this Tuesday. Kühn himself admits it’s still all to play for and although we have lost the battle, it doesn’t necessarily mean we will definitely lose the war. “I know Bayern are confident as a club but I don’t think they will believe the tie is over,” he said. “They will try everything to win at the Allianz Arena – but so will we. It would have been better for us if we had won the game, but everything is still open for the second game. Hopefully we can have a better result.

“We saw we had opportunities on the counter attack. But also if we keep the ball we can be good in possession. In some situations we need to play better but there will be opportunities. We can have belief. We have scored goals already in the league phase. We are in good form and hopefully we can score some more over there. Bayern have a lot of quality and we know they can create a lot of chances. But I thought we defended well against them. The goal before half-time was not a good moment, of course.

Harry Kane of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic and Bayern München at Celtic Park on February 12, 2025.. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“The corner was a little bit too easy for them,” he said via Daily Record. “We can’t let one of the best strikers in the world get a second hall like that. But 2-1 gives us strength and we are now looking forward to the game in Germany. Everything is still open. It only takes another goal and we will be drawing. We are going to give everything.”

Eric Dier of Bayern Munich and Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic compete for the ball Celtic v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, Knockout Round Play-offs, First Leg, Celtic Park, 12 February 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

On the goal he scored itself, Kühn added: “It would have been unbelievable. I was hoping it wasn’t offside. It was unlucky. I did not notice at the time because I don’t think Adam touched it. I think they said he was in the line of sight. It was really nice for a short time.

“The noise was crazy, like it was for the whole game. The supporters were amazing. In the last half an hour we were much better and we created some chances. There is still some way to go in the tie.”

Paul Gillespie

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