Brendan Rodgers and Celtic don’t have much to complain about this season.
But one thing that would have been difficult to take was Celtic’s 7-1 Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund in October.
Nuri Sahin, who was coached by Rodgers at Liverpool, got the better of his former teacher and it was a very difficult pill to swallow for all involved.
Mainly because, at the time, it was the same old story in Europe for Celtic, even if it was against a team who had just been beaten in last season’s Champions League final to Real Madrid.
It needs to be noted that there was a lot of change at the top of Dortmund’s tree in the summer, including the appointment of Sahin as manager after Edin Terzic’s exit.
This was the 36-year-old’s second foray into management after taking the hotseat at the Turkish side, Antalyaspor for a two-year period.
But now, even all of that has come to an end!
Nuri Sahin sacked by Borussia Dortmund
Celtic fans would have had an eye on Tuesday’s Champions League matches because they would have been looking for a helping hand as they push to secure a play-off spot.
Bologna’s home clash against Dortmund had no relevance to the Bhoys, in terms of securing a play-off place, but that defeat for the German club has now ended Sahin’s short reign in the dugout.
That was the Serie A side’s first win in the Champions League this season and it has resulted in Dortmund, who 13th in the standing, before Wednesday’s games can be played, sacking Sahin as their manager less than 24 hours later in a brutal fashion.
What’s interesting is that if Celtic beat Young Boys, then they go level on points with Dortmund in the table and can even surpass them in the final match week.
‘Borussia Dortmund and Nuri Sahin are parting ways with immediate effect,’ wrote the club statement on Wednesday morning.
‘BVB has dismissed its head coach following the disappointing 2:1 defeat in the UEFA Champions League at FC Bologna on Tuesday evening.’
What Sahin said about ‘very prestigious’ Celtic
It needs to be noted that Celtic and Dortmund could yet play each other in the Champions League.
From possibly meeting in a two-legged play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League or just meeting at any stage, it’s a possibility.
But, before Sahin’s sacking, he spoke highly of the champions of Scotland and how they are a ‘very prestigious club’, as he stated back in October.
“What can you say about Celtic?” said Sahin. “They are a very prestigious club with amazing talent in their squad and a fantastic coach.
“It will be a challenge for us, but at the same time a big challenge, a huge challenge, which they didn’t have this season, playing in our stadium. I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t think it’s fair to call them underdogs, to be honest.”
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