How Celtic stars reacted to big Champions League win vs Young Boys

Kasper Schmeichel

Kasper, can you sum up the emotion of that evening and the ultimate qualification to the next stage?

Incredible evening. Yes, these nights are special. We talk about it a lot in the dressing room to take these kind of opportunities because they are so rare.

But, yes, full credit to the boys. I think we, particularly first off, were excellent. There was quite a bit of adversity within the game, but we showed maturity.

We showed some good experience in terms of how to play at this level. Kept them from, you know, too many chances and created a lot. And, yes, OK, we need a little bit of luck in the end with the goal, but in terms of the build-up play and all this, this is exactly what we're trying to do.

So, a mature performance, very, very, very good performance and an incredible night to be a part of.

I know you've played in some huge matches, but as you've said, there's a lot of maturity there from some that haven't experienced that. How impressed were you with that? And what does it say about the future for these young guys that are coming in and playing so well on nights like this?

Yes, listen, I think the challenge of playing for a club like Celtic is that you're looking for perfection all the time.

And you're never going to achieve perfection, but you've got to get as close to it as possible. And I think, you know, the fans, they play their part in terms of creating an atmosphere. You know, you stand there and you're listening to it.

I was looking over at their bench, their players, when the anthem was going. And, you know, you could see that that's just not normal.

That’s up to the players to live up to that and credit to them, particularly the young guys coming in, stepping up, having the confidence to take the game by the scruff of the neck, taking penalties, all these things that are needed.

You need guys to step up and everyone does that every single day. Everyone rises to that challenge. They relish that challenge.

It's a joy to be part of.

I did watch you in the line-up at the beginning, and I can see how much you enjoy that noise at the anthem. Is that just one small part of the reason why you've been pleased to commit yourself for another season?

Yes, it's definitely part of it. But, I mean, it's the whole package. It's being a Celtic player is a privilege. It's something, I think, particularly when you get older, you realise that those kinds of opportunities to be a player at a club of this size, they don't just come along.

You know, I had to wait a good 19, 20 years in my career to play at a club of this size. So, yes, these nights, they're special. Again, I've played in these kinds of occasions before, but you realise they're very few and far between, so you've got to enjoy them.

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Callum McGregor

Callum, what does that result mean to you personally, to the boys in that dressing room and the club as a whole?

I'm so proud of all the boys. Fantastic effort right up to this point. I thought we were excellent, especially in the first half of the game.

Obviously, a couple of goals disallowed, but we showed their authority in the game. I thought we were well on top at that point. Obviously, the game changes a little bit in the second half, which you expect.

They're playing against a good side, so they'll have a spell in the game. But credit to the boys, they stuck with the task and stayed in the game. You knew the momentum would change again at some point and we'd get a chance.

So, really proud of the boys. Brilliant for the club to be involved in knockout football again. Obviously, we've got one more game to go and see where we can end up.

Did that first 45 minutes in particular just cement the notion that this is where you belong in the Champions League?

Yes, because like you said, most of the games have been very dominant, especially here at home. So, that was the intent of the game, was to be aggressive, get after the game, try and create chances. We did that.

So, yes, there's a real belief and a confidence about the players that we belong at this level and we trust ourselves at this level. And when you get results as well, it just reaffirms everything. So, fantastic result, fantastic performance and really proud of the players.

Talk to me about the character of the team, because in the second half, you can't help but sense the anxiety around the stadium. The longer it goes, but to go on and win that in the last five minutes in the way that you did, it takes a bit of doing.

Yes, and I think that's where we've got so much better over the last 12 months.

That game, probably last year, we'd probably lose it or we'd draw it. There's a real maturity in the way that we play the game now and to hang in there and wait on the momentum of the game changing again. We can defend really well from that block.

Then you see it again at the end with the emergency defending that we've got to do. The team are comfortable doing that now, which I believe is a big step forward for us. So, yes, we showed all the bits that were good about our game tonight.

We capped it off with a brilliant win.

The objective, of course, was to make it through, but there's still a trip to England to be negotiated. What would it mean to go down there and prove your worth again?

Yes, that's it.

That's the next challenge for the group. Obviously, fantastic tonight. But yes, we go against a big club who have done really well with a manager who's synonymous with European football.

So, it'll be a brilliant task and a brilliant learning curve for us as well. So, let's go there and play our football and see what happens.

(Image: PA)

Adam Idah

Adam, can you sum up the emotion of that 97 or so minutes that you've just witnessed and participated in?

It was amazing. The scenes are unbelievable and I think that's what everyone wants to see in a game of football. The lads were fantastic throughout the game.

We probably should have been up in the first half. It was a bit unlucky but we grinded through it and we got there in the end.

You had to battle it out but the first half was superb. Was there a sense of frustration going in at half-time that it was still goalless?

It was quite frustrating but at the same time I think we were quite confident when you score that many goals. It was quite unlucky we missed the penalty as well. You get confidence from that.

The second half probably wasn't as good as the first half but we still managed to get through it and we stuck to it and got the goal in the end.

The manager has often told us that it's not about 11 men in the pitch, it's a squad that make the difference. What was his message to you before you took to the pitch tonight?

Just go on and do my thing.

Play with freedom. He says that every game and it's good for me when I come on the pitch and I know that he has confidence in me. To go out and do what I can do and thankfully today I contributed to the goal.

How does it feel to have played such a huge part in that winning goal? I saw you run to the Celtic' support in great joy.

It's amazing. I haven't scored in a while and to have something to do to make a small bit of history in the club is fantastic.

It's an amazing feeling and I'm delighted

 One of the reasons that you'll be here at Celtic is to be involved in nights like this. What does it mean to have made it through to the next stage of this elite competition?

It's unbelievable.

It was one of our goals at the start of the season and we've been fantastic in this campaign. We've got here now and there's still more to come and we're all looking forward to it.

Reo Hatate

Reo, can I have your thoughts on tonight's match?

Yes, I'm happy to go to the next round. It's a difficult game today. I'm happy to win the game.

Was it a true team performance tonight rather than an individual one?

Yes, in the first half, we were really good. But in the second half, it was a little bit too difficult. But we scored.

We are able to score lots of goals. I’m happy.

The manager was full of praise for your part in the goal. Quite a fantastic pass. Is that your pass of the season so far?

Yes, I think so. But this is my job.

How much are you looking forward to another Champions League night at Celtic Park?

I'm looking forward to every game.

Because we have a big support and big fans. So it's crazy, they have a passion.

So I want to show our play.

Auston Trusty

Auston, can I ask for your perspective of that performance tonight? Defensively, you had to stand up to some pressure in the second half, but all round, that was a deserved victory?

 Yes, we play together as a team as the game goes on. Unfortunate not to get the goal early on, but that's football and we stay and we persevere through the game and it eventually fell our way.

How much of an inspiration can the supporters be? I know they'll drive you on in the early stages, but going into that last 10 minutes, could you sense the stadium?

It helps out a lot. I know I think a lot of people may say, oh, the fans aren't really involved, but it truly does make an impact, especially for us. You know, to have 60,000 plus fans here, you know, and Celtic Park's a pretty amazing place to play in.

So, in your favour, you know, I'm supporting you. It definitely makes an impact for us, for sure.

The Young Boy goalkeeper has been nominated Player of the Match tonight, and I think that suggests that we've played most of the game on the front foot. But defensively, how proud are you of the performance of your colleagues along the back line and your goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel?

Yeah, you know, we're a unit and you can see the chemistry, and we're all playing, and it's really, really fluid back there. So, as I say before, it's every game we're getting closer and closer and the chemistry's getting better and better. So, as time goes on, it's only going to get better.

And how are these Champions League nights comparing to anything else you've had in your career so far?

It's amazing. Champions League nights at Celtic Park, it's pretty amazing. And yeah, I don't know what else can really beat it.

Just the atmosphere alone and coming here, and that's a big factor when coming here. You understand the situation you're going to walk into, and it's really a dream come true.