“Celtic were better than us – it’s as simple as that,” RB Leipzig’s goalscorer

The Celtic Star

·6 de noviembre de 2024

“Celtic were better than us – it’s as simple as that,” RB Leipzig’s goalscorer

Post match thoughts from inside Celtic Park as both Celtic and RB Leipzig managers and players have their say…

Marco Rose, Head Coach of RB Leipzig, comforts Benjamin Henrichs at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose praises Celtic

RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose reckons Celtic were very unlucky in Dortmund and knew that they would be much better against his side. “I’m not surprised [at how they’ve recovered], and even in Dortmund they had some chances. Dortmund scored easy goals, two penalties. [Celtic] were really unlucky and then we in Germany know how it would go in Dortmund if they come in a flow, in a run.

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“So knew about the quality of Celtic, [their]possession game is top, really good and fast players. We saw today all what we expected. The first five minutes showed everything [in terms of]what they tried to play.”

Marco Rose reckons that the decisive moments in the match for his team were the couple of opportunities that his players had at 1-0 to double their lead. Instead Celtic came roaring back with two goals from former RB Leipzig player Nicolas Kühn before the break to give Celtic the lead.

READ THIS…Celtic earn Champions League wings against Red Bull Leipzig

Christoph Baumgartner of RB Leipzig scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“But again, from the 10th to the 35th minute, we had it all in our hands. If you miss to score a second goal and you concede one, it can get difficult here with this atmosphere. A really good team, a top coach and disappointing for us,” Rose said.

ON THE NEXT PAGE – UEFA’s Player of the Match Nicolas Kühn has his say…

Nicolas Kühn was named Player of the Match

UEFA’s Technical Observer Panel said: “His two goals brought Celtic back into the match and into a winning position and he created lots of opportunities for his team-mates to score. It was a very effective performance with a great end product.”

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Nicolas Kühn, speaking to UEFA.com, was certainly happy with his nights work. “It’s difficult to put into words what happened out there tonight. We played an amazing game and we’re really happy with the three points.”

Kühn also spoke about his two goals that turned the match in Celtic favour. “My goals were important to get us going (after falling behind). Before we conceded the corner (from which Baumgartner scored) we were playing well. Then we had a couple of minutes that weren’t so good, but once we got those goals we kicked on again and played the second half the way we finished the first.”

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Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Kühn reckons that Celtic’s reaction after going behind was brilliant.”I can only congratulate the team and our desire to get three points. Against Atalanta we did a good job defensively. The counter-attack and the final ball was missing but it was there tonight. We want to win the next game and go further in this competition.”

Nicolas Kühn on his brilliant first goal and what it meant to score against his former club, RB Leipzig.

“I went on one of my dribbles, saw the shot and decided to shoot. It’s what dreams are made of and even better to score against my old club. At home, as we showed, everything is possible with our fans.”

ON THE NEXT PAGE – RB Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner admits Celtic were the better side…

Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner admits Celtic were the better side

Leipzig’s goal-scorer Christoph Baumgartner, speaking to UEFA.com, reckons that his side fell out of the game after missing a few chances to extend their lead after the big defender had headed the visitors in front.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic runs with the ball under pressure from Amadou Haidara of RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We weathered the early storm and went ahead from a corner. We could have scored another after that but then we fell out of the game, allowed Celtic to come back and they scored those two goals before half-time, which shook us.

“They played some really good football. They pressed us back and made it difficult for us to get out from the back. When they scored the third, there was no way back for us. On the night, Celtic were better than us – it’s as simple as that,” Christoph Baumgartner said.

Champions League Reo Hatate celebrates after scoring in the second half of a Champions League football match against Leipzig on Nov. 5, 2024, Photo Imago (The Celtic Star).

“It’s going to be very difficult for us to progress now. We have been ahead in three games now and we’ve still lost them. You can’t make the mistakes we have made in the Champions League and get away with it.”

ON THE NEXT PAGE – Brendan Rodgers hails an outstanding Celtic performance…

Brendan Rodgers hails an outstanding performance

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers talks with Callum McGregor of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking to UEFA.com: “It was an outstanding team performance. You know you’re playing against a top side with every facet of the game you’d like – speed and power and technique.

“We were very good in the game. We made a good start, then got rocked after 20 minutes when they scored. It took us a bit of time to get going again but once we got that first goal we got that confidence.

“Throughout the game our intensity, pressing and maturity in our aggression gave us the confidence to play. We pressed well and we passed well.

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Auston Trusty celebrates at full time during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s a great tribute to the players because they’re playing against a team that are amazing on the counterpress. For us to get that goal, especially that second goal in that pressing way… then we did a lot of good things without the ball tonight which gave us the room to play and we showed great quality.”

“If you had said after the Dortmund game that we’d take four points from Atalanta and Leipzig, people might not have believed us. The players have shown great maturity. I just felt we could put the defensive performance (against) Atalanta together with the attacking excitement of the Slovan Bratislava game (5-1 win). We managed to marry them and produce a great performance,” Brendan said.

ON THE NEXT PAGE – The three videos you will want to enjoy after Celtic’s 3-1 win over RB Leipzig…

Match Highlights, full time scenes and Unique Angle

Enjoy the highlights from TNT Sports together with their coverage of the post-match scenes inside Celtic Park on what was a memorable night for the club. And there’s also the Unique Angle from Celtic TV. Outstanding!

Celtic in The Thirties – out now!

Matt Corr’s highly anticipated Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) are available now on Celtic Star Books. Order your copies today and receive signed copies which will be posted straight away. Order at celticstarbooks.com