Luke McCowan shuts down Dortmund 'levels above' claim as Celtic star adamant it was just an off night

The sight of the Celtic fans packed into the Westfalenstadion hours before kick-off hit home the club’s level for Luke McCowan.

But the performances on the pitch in Germany didn’t. Celtic might have been thumped 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund last week in a Champions League chasing but the midfielder is convinced the Hoops ARE still on the same level as the Bundesliga big guns.

The champions bounced back from the roasting on the Rhine with a crucial Premiership victory against Ross County in Dingwall on Sunday. But the Champions League fallout is still lingering with plenty of pundits insisting Dortmund were a cut above Celtic. The question was put to McCowan – but his answer was sharp as one of his pinged passes. He said: “I probably want to correct you because I don’t think they were a level above. I just think they were ruthless.

“We were not at it. But they’re not a level above Celtic. Celtic are the same as them. We are as big a club as them. We just weren’t at it that night. To watch how the two teams were that night probably showed us the level we need to be at.

“Regardless of playing Dortmund or playing Dundee or anybody in the league, you want to be at that same level week in, week out. The message at Ross County, at St Johnstone, the message every game is to be a Champions League team no matter who you’re playing.”

McCowan points to the performance a few days earlier in Perth, when Celts stuffed St Johnstone in a six- goal romp, where the playmaker’s perfect pitched pass helped contribute to the stunning goal of the month final goal from Adam Idah. The display was Champions League class – and that’s the benchmark for the Hoops in Europe, even if the standard of opposition is higher.

McCowan said: “When you’re 5-0 up