Champions League: ‘I was loving every minute, another 30 would have been amazing’, says Celtic’s Schmeichel

Just over four months ago, the talk around Celtic in European football was very different.

They were dismantled by Borussia Dortmund, beaten 7-1 on a wretched night, seemingly out of their depth at the top table.

And yet, they regrouped and came up with answers.

Wins against RB Leipzig and Young Boys followed, along with respectable draws against Atalanta, Club Brugge and Dinamo Zagreb, which all set up a showpiece tie against Bayern.

Bayern, who sit 26 points and 10 places above Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

Bayern, who Celtic deservedly led in Munich until the dying stages.

Despite the heartbreak, it was telling evidence of how far Celtic have progressed in four months.

“There’s so much disappointment but when we take a step back and analyse the fact we’re away to Bayern and are disappointed in drawing, I think that says a lot when you think of where we started,” Schmeichel said.

Former Scotland forward James McFadden echoed those thoughts: “Celtic suffered out there and they proved people wrong,” he said on Sportsound.

“People watching that will go ‘Celtic are a really good side’. Everyone involved will be gutted at the minute because they will feel they could have won this tie.

“That tells you how far they have come.”

Moving forward, Rodgers sees the foundations that will allow Celtic to compete with Europe’s top teams once again next season.

Only Aston Villa beat them in the league phase after the drubbing in Dortmund and the Celtic boss insists his players will be better for their continental experiences.

“We learned some valuable lessons along the way, played some amazing football,” he said.

“It allows us to build. We’ve made the progress that made me want to come back and now we have to finish the season off strong.

“My unswerving plan is to make it a seasoned club at this level, where we can go and really hurt big opponents like Bayern Munich.”