Celtic’s performance in Munich will frustrate the fans because of what they produced in the first leg.
Many expected that, if Brendan Rodgers’ side were going to cause Bayern Munich serious damage, then it would have mainly happened at Celtic Park.
But instead, Harry Kane’s goal was the difference in Glasgow and the Hoops were beaten 2-1 on their home patch to provide Vincent Kompany’s side with the now-costly advantage.
Many felt that it took Celtic an hour to get going in the first leg, and when they did start to motor, they exposed Bayern Munich’s vulnerabilities at the back.
That was further proven in Bavaria when the champions of Scotland should have, at the very least, been two or even three nil ahead before many headed to the break.
But did Rodgers shoot himself in the foot in the first game?
Stuart Kettlewell on Brendan Rodgers’ call on Celtic trio Daizen Maeda, Jota and Adam Idah
Some suggested that Daizen Maeda should have started up top in the first leg, but Rodgers opted for Adam Idah and it was only, when he went off after that first hour, that everything changed.
That’s why the Celtic manager started Jota-Maeda-Nicolas Kuhn for the return leg, and as everybody saw, it worked a treat and Stuart Kettlewell touched upon that call.
The former Motherwell manager stated he has ‘nothing against Idah’, but he feels Rodgers made a mistake and Maeda should have been the one up top from the get-go, as he told the Warm-Up.
“I watched the game last week and they were all maybe guessing one position and combination,” said Kettlewell.
“My guess last week was how Celtic started the game at the top end of the park. Having Maeda, Kuhn and Jota on the left-hand side. I thought that’s what it would be last week.
“You just get that ridiculous intensity at the top of the park. Maeda playing as a striker, he will just set the tone for how to go and get the ball back.
“That’s nothing against Idah. It’s just I felt that probably bringing in Jota, he comes into the team and into the starting XI. I felt that had a bit of a difference in their performance and play.”
Maeda’s record as a centre-forward for Celtic this season
You can’t blame Rodgers for starting Idah in the first leg because he had just netted a brace at Villa Park and produced one of his best games in a Celtic shirt.
But another thing you can’t argue is Maeda’s form this season and his record as a centre-forward.
| Played as… | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left Winger | 28 | 11 | 7 |
| Centre-Forward | 4 | 8 | 2 |
Another thing to note was Kyogo Furuhashi’s exit and how that striker not coming in during the January transfer window didn’t help matters.
Even legendary striker Alan Shearer says Celtic would have won with a natural finisher given how they played in Munich.
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