Celtic will have to go the difficult way around if they want to compete in the 2025/26 edition of the Champions League.
Given that Scotland’s coefficient has taken a hit over the years, it now means that Celtic have to qualify for Europe’s biggest stage.
That’s why Celtic are getting their transfer business done early, with four faces through the doors, including goalkeeper Ross Doohan.
It has been all change in the goalkeeping department since the last time Doohan was at Celtic Park, including two high-quality players donning the main gloves.
They include the club’s current number one, Kasper Schmeichel, and the now-retired Joe Hart.
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Celtic hero Joe Hart lauded alongside Cristiano Ronaldo
The UEFA Champions League’s official social media account gave a mention to Hart, alongside some of the greats, such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
For the Celtic fans who didn’t know, Hart holds the joint-record (5) of most penalty saves in the competition’s history, alongside Shakhtar Donetsk legend Andriy Pyatov.
UEFA put up a graphic of Hart, alongside the two players (Robert Lewandowski and Ronaldo) who have scored the most penalties (19), as well as the players who have scored the most spot kicks in a season (João Mario and Harry Kane).
‘What do you notice?’ asked UEFA’s official social media post, along with the graphic of Hart’s record.
Hart’s penalty saves in the Champions League
In total, Hart has saved 15 penalties in his career, and two for the mighty Celtic, both coming in the Champions League.
The Englishman’s three other saves (out of five) in Europe came in the colours of Manchester City, whilst the rest of his penalty saves in his career came either in the English Premier League, League Two or on the international stage.
But can the Celtic fans remember Hart’s two penalty saves in Europe?
- Penalty save 1 for Celtic vs Feyenoord, September 2023. (Igor Paixão).
- Penalty save 2 for Celtic vs Atletico Madrid, October 2023. (Antoine Griezmann).
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