Vincent Kompany relishes ‘hot’ Celtic vs Bayern Munich Champions League prospect

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Celtic have a hot ticket in their Champions League knockout playoff fixture.

The Hoops landed a glamour tie after securing a spot with a nerve-shredding win over Young Boys at Parkhead last week.

Their final League Phase matchday clash with Aston Villa did have top eight riding on it but that was always set to be difficult and Brendan Rodgers accepted that.

A 4-2 defeat to Villa on Wednesday was not the ideal result but it was a brave Celtic showing with Adam Idah in particular coming off strong and leaving Birmingham with his confidence sky-high.

The result meant little with qualification secured but what it did do was set the Celts up for an incredibly difficult route into the latter stages.

Finishing 21st in the standings, that meant a rough ride in the playoff against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

• READ MORE: Jason Cundy sends ’embarrassing’ Champions League message about Celtic and Manchester City

Celtic will face Bayern Munich after this morning’s Champions League draw

There are no easy games, of course, in Europe’s elite competition but there certainly could have been less difficult matches to come through.

Still, it is what it is and fans will have to brace themselves for two-legs of mayhem no matter the opponent.

And that exact view is shared by Munich boss Vincent Kompany.

The Belgian former Burnley manager knows how difficult Manchester City would have been for his side – as the alternative to facing the Hoops – but he refused to disrespect Celtic in the same breath as previewing Pep Guardiola’s outfit as a possible foe.

Especially after it was confirmed this morning that Celtic WOULD face Munich in the knockouts.

Kompany‘s side finished 12th and they sit top of the Bundesliga by six points.

But their gaffer looked honestly at what might be next for his giants and acknowledged both sides would give his team trouble if not taken seriously.

Kompany knows to take Celtic seriously as Champions League foes

“Now we have to restore this energy to be hot for those games,” Kompany said as quoted by BeIN Sports.

“Now City, as well as Celtic, enter these knock-out matches with a good feeling, and we need to have that as well.

“We have to build our energy. We have to switch to the mentality of looking forward to these big games.

“You get to the stage of a competition where you expect big games.”