Shakhtar Donetsk manager Igor Jovicevic has stated his amazement at facing Celtic this week, sharing that he experienced an ‘unprecedented atmosphere’ in Glasgow.
Shakhtar came away from Celtic Park with a creditable 1-1 draw, keeping their dreams of a UEFA Champions League knockout place very much alive heading into the final matchday.
Reflecting on the experience, Jovicevic didn’t have enough good things to say about Celtic and the supporters.
He said, as quoted by The Daily Record: “Our young team did not give up in the incredible atmosphere at Celtic which was the most intense I have ever felt as a manager. It was the same noise as when I made my debut for Real Madrid, I played a friendly match against Benfica in front of 120,000 people.
“There really was an unprecedented atmosphere in Glasgow, we couldn’t hear each other on the bench because of the noise. You rarely see such fanaticism of fans these days. We are really a very young team, we have no experience when it comes to playing in such circumstances – and we reduced Celtic to two chances. They score five or six goals every week in the Scottish championship. And they have their best team in the last twenty years.
“We could have won, but the point is phenomenal because it secured the Europa League in the spring. I have to say how good it was when we managed to calm down the Celtic fans with our game in Glasgow. It was a great feeling when we were keeping possession of the ball. And when we scored a goal, everything turned into silence, which gave us additional motivation – we all felt ‘that’s it.’
“At the end of the game, the Celtic fans applauded us off the pitch. You know what the Scots are like – good, honest fans. It was a really great gesture.”
In some ways, reading comments such as these is bittersweet. We of course want a reputation as a fantastic football destination across the continent, but at the same time, it’d be good if an opponent left miserable for a change!
Unfortunately, Celtic Park is becoming all too comfortable for European opponents to visit. It’s been quite a while since we’ve managed to pick up a home win in the group stage of the competition, remarkably stretching back all the way to a 2-1 victory over Ajax in 2013.
All that comes down to the team first and foremost. After no participation in the Champions League for half a decade, this season’s entry was always going to be tough.
This group must qualify again for next year’s tournament and show everyone why Celtic Park isn’t just a stadium for opponents to savour, but fear.
In other news, Report: Date set for Celtic to take part in SPFL ‘crisis’ summit.
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