Alphonso Davies’ decisive goal dealt a final blow to Celtic’s hopes in Europe’s premier competition, sending the Scottish champions crashing out of the tournament.
Despite a potential foul in the build-up to Bayern Munich’s pivotal goal being brought to the attention of Celtic skipper Callum McGregor, he chose not to dwell on excuses following their Champions League exit. The Hoops showed great courage at the Allianz Arena, but Davies’ goal against Nicolas Kuhn’s earlier strike sealed a 3-2 aggregate defeat for the Scottish side.
Ahead of Davies’ goal, Celtic players vehemently appealed for a foul on Maeda, as Dayot Upamecano appeared to make contact with the forward’s face near his own penalty area. However, the referee, Benoit Bastien, allowed play to continue, leading to Davies’ crucial strike after Cameron Carter-Vickers’ clearance fell short. This contentious sequence of events left Celtic fans fuming, with many expressing discontent over the decision to play on despite the potential foul.
Despite the heartbreaking Champions League elimination, McGregor maintained a positive outlook, stating, “While it could have been a factor, we choose not to use it as an excuse. I believe we can take pride in the belief, growth, and confidence demonstrated throughout the campaign. We must build upon this performance and carry forward the momentum gained from tonight’s game as it was evident to all who watched that we fielded a strong Celtic team.”.
