Ah well. The dream when the draw was being made for the group stages of the Champions League for many Celtic fans was to get drawn a glamour tie against Real Madrid.
We’ve had Barcelona, PSG, Man United and AC Milan but the Galacticos was the team that would make this Champions League campaign a dream.
But the dream quickly turned into a kinf of nightmare. I say kind of because even although we had a collective aggregate score of 8-1 from both ties, the results certainly didn’t match the performances Celtic put in.
But in terms of tonight, the scoreline was helped along with two very dubious first half penalties for the home side.
And Madrid legend Steve McManaman wasn’t impressed with the officials that awarded them.
Speaking on BT Sports post match, mcManaman said, “And it’s just as I said, this first one and the second one, I just felt that there was no context of what was going around the ball hitting the arms of the defenders.
“You know, where the ball was going, would it have threatened the goal? Would it have ended up in the back of the net?
“And the answer would have been a resounding no.
“And I just thought it spoiled the game. It really did.
“It was an awful decision.”
McManaman won two Champions League titles with the Spanish giants and I felt his analysis of the game and Celtic’s performance was very fair and balanced. As was his take on the penalty decisions.
Look, I’m a realist. Even if the penalties weren’t awarded, it would have been hard to see past Madrid tonight but there is absolutely no doubt they changed the pattern of the game.
However, as long as the players learn from this and build from this for next season, that’s all we can ask.
Because let’s face it, I’ve seen worse campaigns than this.
I honestly take Steve McManaman’s comments as a very laughable one. He is not a Real Madrid legend and he has never seen anything good about Madrid whenever they win. I remember his comments when Rmadrid met Chelsea Liverpool and Mancity during last years champions league. He is very bitter about Madrid and he has no place in Madrids history. A ball in motion does not need to be goal bound or on target to be awarded a penalty inside the box. Once it hits the hand and that hand is not in Natural position then VAR says or Rule says it is a penalty. Real Madrid suffered similar penalty in alligator against Girona and cost us 2 points . He should shut his mouth up!!!
I genuinely thought he was very balanced in his views with Celtic. And come one mate, of course he’s a legend. Look at the silverware he has won with them!
Look buddy Steve spent 4 years in Madrid and had 94 appearances in all competition. This showed that he was just a fringe player in that team. He should consider himself lucky to have been part of that squad. 94 apps for 4years??? That is a poor stat for a legendary status!!! Was he fair in his comments against us last year during champions league. He said that Liverpool would come back and beat us in the second half as if we’re just there to make up the numbers.
Look ‘buddy’, anyone that wins one Champions League with a team should always be regarded as a legend in my eyes. He won two. Your views are indicative of the type of football fan that comes across as being entitled.
Next up, I couldn’t give a flying **** what he says about your team. This site is about Celtic, no one else.
Madrid 8v1 Celtic
Madrid 4v3 Leipzig
Madrid 3v2 Shaktar
Ange has to change in Europe.
He won’t though