Celtic may have lost 3-0 to Real Madrid on Tuesday evening, but the Spanish media are still impressed with Ange Postecoglou’s club.
There was much anticipation ahead of the trip to Celtic Park, and an awareness of how fierce the atmosphere would be. Now the dust has settled a little, Spanish newspaper AS has an article on what makes Celtic so special.
AS say that once upon a time, Real Madrid and Celtic were ‘two indispensable references in world football’ but have since gone in opposite directions. Whereas Los Blancos are arguably the biggest club on the planet, they can only be matched by the Glasgow side when it comes to the ‘passion of the fans’.
For a Spanish audience, the newspaper explains the two clubs took different paths since the 1960s because Celtic are trapped in a ‘small league’. They’re neighbours to the commercial machine of the Premier League, and Celtic’s ‘destiny is to become smaller, despite their fabulous amount of followers around the world’.
Real Madrid’s victory is talked up as a significant triumph, with AS making sure to praise Celtic for where they are now: ‘The result is praiseworthy. Celtic Park preserves its incandescent emotional atmosphere and celebrates the progress of its team, far removed from the primary style of the last three decades.
‘Postecoglou has brought Celtic into the modernity of the game, to the credit of doing so without stars. The team plays well, with dynamism, ambition and disdain for the pointless. Hence, the value of Madrid’s victory, which went through worrying moments in the first half, surpassed by its rival, who reached the area with discretion, ease and had several shots.’
