It’s an opening point for Celtic in the Europa League.
In the first half, Brendan Rodgers’ side were nowhere near it, but then, Celtic turned up and started to trouble Red Star Belgrade.
Despite Kelechi Iheanacho opening the scoring after coming off the bench, Vladan Milojevic’s side hit back through the arrogant and in-your-face Marko Arnautovic.
When looking back at the overall picture, it was a fair result, and the man in Belgrade’s dugout shared his thoughts on Celtic.
Celtic ‘didn’t surprise’ Red Star Belgrade coach Vladan Milojevic
Both teams could argue that they had enough to win the game, and Milojevic noted how his side ‘didn’t succeed’ in netting the winner.
The Red Star coach stated his players ‘got out of an awkward situation’ when Celtic were putting them under the pump in the second half.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Milojevic added that the champions of Scotland ‘didn’t surprise us with anything’, and he is rather pleased about that.
“One goal was missing,” said Milojevic about his side. “Unfortunately, we didn’t succeed. We got out of an awkward situation where Celtic had two or three chances, but we conceded a goal.
“We managed to come back with character; we scored a goal. Mirko Ivanic had a chance; if he had scored then, it would have been easier for us. But that’s football. It’s the Europa League.
“Celtic is a good team. What I’m particularly happy about is that they didn’t surprise us with anything. We had to make forced changes at halftime. But the players who came out gave their best. Let’s move on”.
Red Star Belgrade keeper Mateus ‘saved’ his team against Celtic
Whilst there wasn’t much of a threat from Celtic in the first half, that’s why Daizen Maeda was subbed off. It was much better in the second, and you could sense the goal coming.
Celtic continued to have their moments, and whilst Red Star felt they could have won the game, Milojevic admitted that his goalkeeper ‘saved us’, after his players ‘left a lot of space’ for the away team, as he continued on Mozzart Sport.
“It was a good and meaningful game, both teams played to win,” added Milojevic. “A good opponent. We had no problems in the first half, but we wanted to dominate, to push them out of their comfort zone. We knew they would try.
“That ‘blackout’ happened at the beginning of the second half, when Mateus saved us. We left a lot of space for the Celtic players to come from the second plan, that’s how we conceded a goal.
“It’s very difficult to come back against such opponents. The team showed character, and we scored an equalising goal. Marko Arnautovic had that great chance. I’m never satisfied when we don’t win; we still have a lot of games. We have to analyse it.”
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