Opinion: Celtic can still build momentum even if club exit Europe

In a few hours time, Celtic will try to keep the club’s European ambitions alive for the 2021/22 season when the Hoops take on Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of the Europa Conference League knockout round tie.

The Hoops go into the tie as underdogs after the Norwegian side deservedly triumphed 3-1 at Celtic Park in the first leg of the tie.

It will be a big test for Ange Postecogou and his players to get the two goal win that will take the game to extra time, or the three goal win which would book a place in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.

The odds are against the Hoops getting the required win, but even if the Hoops don’t manage to get through to the next round the side can still build momentum.

If the Bhoys only won this evening’s game by one goal, and lost out on aggregate 3-2 for example, that would be a blow, but the Hoops could take a lot of confidence from going to a difficult venue, playing on an artificial surface and managing to keep a clean sheet.

It would be a disappointment to go out of Europe, but the Hoops could take a lot from a narrow win in Norway, and use that disappointment to fuel the team’s performances for the rest of the season.

The Bhoys won’t want a repeat of the first leg, where the Hoops go down without a fight for the most part. If Celtic suffer a heavy defeat in the second leg, there would be concern about if the result would affect the domestic performances going ahead, as it should be remembered that Celtic travel to Easter Road to play Hibernian on Sunday lunchtime. 

If Celtic do manage to get the win to defeat Bodo/Glimt on aggregate or on penalties, it would have to be considered as one of the club’s best wins in Europe for a long time. It would show that Ange Postecoglou’s