And so, the end is here, and Celtic have faced the final curtain. After some thrilling highs and a few bruising lows, the club’s adventure in their Champions League theatre of dreams is over for the season.
What started with the ignominy of defeat to part-timers Lincoln Red Imps on a threadbare carpet of a surface in the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar, ended last night with the restoration of pride amid the splendour of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
They may not have got the win they so craved, but the feeling after a deserved and more than creditable draw would have been entirely different for Brendan Rodgers and his men after they made a thrilling spectacle of their curtain call, and showed plenty of promise ahead of next season’s encore performance.
All around the ground, the electronic displays bore the ‘Respect’ slogan adopted by UEFA, and it nicely encapsulated what Celtic had earned on the night from the locals and from one of the world’s top coaches in the opposition dugout.
That may not have been entirely apparent though with the first glance at the teamsheet, as City lined up with two teenagers in defence in Tosin Adarabioyo and Pablo Maffeo.
Wet behind the ears they may be, but the fact they also featured in a game against Bayern Munich in the summer tells you all you need to know about Pep Guardiola’s opinion on their ability.
Elsewhere in the City line-up there was experience and quality through the likes of Bacary Sagna, Ilkay Gundogan and Gael Clichy, as well as the livewire talents of Leroy Sane and Kelechi Iheanacho. Not bad for a weakened eleven, and it was clear that even at full-strength, Celtic would be up against a formidable foe.
But of all the sparkling young City talent on show, it was their precocious winger wearing black that was the first to announce himself on the big stage. If this was Patrick Roberts’ audition to be kept around at the Etihad next season, then he pitched it perfectly.
Cutting in from the right, he weaved his way into the area before curling a glorious effort home to send the visiting fans into raptures and pique the curiosity of more than a few in the home end as to what he might be able to achieve in the blue of City.
It didn’t take long for one of those who have been allowed to hang around to show their own brilliance though, with Iheanacho’s blast high past Craig Gordon a stunning riposte.
But Celtic were undaunted, and possessed a confidence in possession and sufficient thrust along with it to perhaps feel they could have been ahead again before the intermission.
The second act was a repeat performance, with the assured midfield trio of Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic conducting proceedings with authority, and the assistant referee even having the good grace to flag for offside when the Celtic backline fluffed their lines to allow Nolito the space to finish at the back post.
Substitute Leigh Griffiths might have brought the house down when Tom Rogic won the ball high up the park and Gary MacKay-Steven laid the ball on a plate for him, but the striker displayed signs of ring-rustiness as he placed the ball wide.
MacKay-Steven then shot at Willy Caballero after Griffiths returned the favour to him, as Celtic couldn’t quite deliver the rousing finale that their supporters so craved.
Now of course, Celtic are not at the level of this superstar-studded Manchester City squad, who march merrily on to the last 16 with Group C’s bottom-side in their wake. But last night Celtic proved once again that the learning curve that their manager often refers to is set in an upward trend.
They looked every inch the top-level performers they aspire to be.
The challenge now for Rodgers, the club and their fans – who were in fine voice as they filled their end and a fair bit more besides – is to stay motivated for what has already become a procession towards the Premiership league title, and perhaps a treble, without the glorious escapism of Europe’s premier competition.
How the players, staff and supporters have lapped up these sojourns to the homes of major European sides, and how they will all look forward to returning to this stage next season when they hope – as Rodgers has vowed – they will be in a position to make a real fist of prolonging their European adventure for just that little bit longer.
And while the Celtic players and supporters shuffled out of Gibraltar with their heads bowed in embarrassment back in July, they took their leave of the Champions League this year with their heads held high and with the applause of their adoring public ringing rapturously in their ears.
Players and manager milked that reception, but perhaps they were simply wanting to linger on the biggest stage of them all for just a little longer. As well they might, as that feeling now has to last them through the dark winter months.
Their performance on the night showed that they are already on their way to competing at this level come their next opportunity. Until then, Rodgers will continue to develop, mould and whip his cast of players into shape – adding to it where he can – in preparation for the next time that the big stage comes calling. And there won’t be a Celtic fan that will argue against him doing it his way.
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