Celtic have gained a new fan this season in the form of Peter Schmeichel.
In the summer, Celtic signed Kasper Schmeichel after Joe Hart retired and the 38-year-old has had an outstanding season so far.
Along the way, his father had followed his every move in Glasgow, including the team’s progress in the UEFA Champions League.
That included Celtic suffering heartache in Munich on Tuesday night when Alphonso Davies’ stoppage-time goal sent Brendan Rodgers’ side out of the competition.
It was a cruel blow for the Bhoys because none of them deserved it, for what was a spirited performance and one that should have, at the very least, resulted in extra time.
But that doesn’t hide the progress made in Europe this season by Celtic and Peter Schmeichel has been through it all.
Peter Schmeichel on difficulties of being a pundit whilst covering Celtic games
The 61-year-old was ringside in Bavaria to witness Celtic’s spirited display and he explained that everyone will ‘take pride’ in what has been done this season.
The 1999 Champions League winner says he has found it ‘really, really difficult to do my job’ as a pundit for American network CBS Sports when they are covering Celtic matches.
That has happened throughout the Champions League campaign and the Scottish giants were also the main event on CBS for the two legs against Munich.
Schmeichel senior admitted that he can now ‘look forward’ to doing his job ‘without emotion’ as the last 16 of the Champions League approach, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (18/02/25 at 10:10 pm).
“I have played in teams where we did the same and won games like that,” said Peter Schmeichel about Bayern’s late goal. “Of course, it’s absolutely fantastic to win games that way.
“But to be on the receiving end, it’s just devastating. I am so involved emotionally. It’s really, really difficult to do my job.
“I am now quite looking forward to where I can do games without emotions. I thought Kasper was playing really well. I thought they defended really well.
“The one thing I maybe could have wished a little bit for was a bit more aggression up front by putting more pressure on Upamecano and Kim. It’s Bayern Munich, they play at home and they never ever lose here.
“When the dust settles and they look at how they performed over these two games. They competed with Bayern Munich. A team that we think, everyone thinks, that will have a chance to go all the way in this tournament.
“When they look at that they will take a lot of pride and take a lot into their domestic season where they can still win a domestic Treble. This performance here has taught them so much. Being part of this Champions League has taught them so much.
Peter embraces his son Kasper after Celtic’s defeat to Bayern Munich
When Hart opted to retire in the summer, Celtic had a huge call to make and many thought the club would go down a route of replacing the Englishman with a rising goalkeeper.
Thankfully, the call was made to Kasper because he has been outstanding for the club since joining and deserves his recent contract extension.
Now, it’s a case of building and building on what has been achieved this season, including winning the Treble on the domestic stage.
This European campaign proves that there are no excuses for that to happen.
It’s a case of when the Premiership title will be won, the League Cup is in hand and the Scottish Cup is Celtic’s to lose.
