Gordon Strachan: Nothing for Celtic to be terrified by as Bayern Munich come to town | OneFootball

Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has been previewing the first leg of Celtic’s crucial Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich.

Vincent Kompany, Head Coach of Bayern Munich, speaks with his players during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and FC Augsburg at Allianz Arena on November 22, 2024. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

They Strachan, who had a tremendous home record when managing the Champions League with Celtic, is optimistic about his old club’s chances against Bayern and doesn’t think there is anything for Brendan’s team to be terrified by. Gordon Strachan was speaking to Genting Casino.

The newly appointed manager of Celtic, Gordon Strachan, poses following a press conference announcing his new position, May 31, 2005 (Photo by Getty Images)

Do you think they have a chance of beating Bayern Munich over two legs?

Gordon Strachan: “You’re at home against Bayern Munich. Five or six years ago, they were all conquering and all the rest there in the Bundesliga. They’re still an excellent outfit but not one to be really terrified by. Sometimes you play against big sides, it’ll be a long night.

“I actually think because of Bayern’s form over the last couple of years and Celtic’s form over the last couple of years, I think they’ve grown closer together.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, speaks to Daizen Maeda of Celtic during the training session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I don’t think Celtic has got to change the mindset of people playing wide, people running without the ball, I think it’s quite good. The very same thing they’ve done, whether they’re playing Dundee, whether they’re attacking from all areas, running without the ball.

”The one thing that Bayern might have is a bigger physical presence than Celtic are normally used to. I think the physical presence helped Aston Villa to get through. That might be a problem at times to Celtic, that physical presence, but that’s about it.

”I think in terms of technical ability Bayern might be a bit quicker but saying that I thought the Celtic players gave Aston Villa’s backline a bit of a problem with pace.

“I just worry about the strength of Bayern Munich at times. That strength and technical ability that’s helped Bayern Munich over the years is still there.

Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammates during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

”I don’t think they’re as strong as they were, but I still think they’re more powerful than Celtic. So that means Celtic have to keep the ball moving. You have to move that ball quickly, because if you’re fighting with somebody that is more powerful than you, like a boxer, you keep away from that power. You get your jab, get in, out, that type of stuff.

”The main striker thing might be a problem, but they’ve got goals all over the pitch. Hatate, Engels, McGregor, so there’s a variation of players there. I think it’s going to be a cracking game.”

What role will the Celtic crowd play?

Gordon Strachan: “The funny thing about it is people used to say it was an inspiring atmosphere, it’s an intimidating atmosphere. Not now, it’s far from intimidating. Whether you’re a home player or a player who’s visiting, you’ve got to enjoy it.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Yang Hyun-Jun during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

”I keep hearing people like Harry Kane saying I’m looking forward to the atmosphere and rightly he should. But I think the main thing is that it inspires the Celtic players.

“I know what it’s like on a European night, I did it against Barcelona, AC Milan and Man United and I can tell you that players in those teams were too good to get spooked by a crowd.

“I’ve seen them sitting on the bench, when the music’s getting played, You’ll Never Walk Alone, and they keep looking about. It’s fantastic. It doesn’t scare them.

“But what it does on the other side, it definitely, from somewhere, gives the Celtic players another 10%. Absolutely. I know that. I’ve been there as a manager, I’ve watched them, I’ve watched them since. Even for me, I used to make sure, for domestic games, to get there just before the whistle was blown. But a European night like that, I’d make sure I got down the tunnel really early so I could enjoy it. Get inspired with that.

”And funny enough, whatever nerves I had in the dressing room before it, as soon as I saw the crowd, the nerves went. There was an excitement about it, and you felt like, there’s Ancelotti or whoever that is. It didn’t bother me at that point.

“So if it can do that to me, then hopefully it can do that to Brendan.”

What do Celtic need from the first leg?

Gordon Strachan: “Not to be beaten. If they’re not beaten, they’ve definitely got a chance. I think Celtic can take inspiration from the periods in the game they played against Aston Villa.

Aston Villa v Celtic Champions League 29/01/2025. GOAL scores 2-1 Celtic forward Adam Idah 9 scores and celebrates with Celtic defender Liam Scales 5 during the Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on 29 January 2025. Photo Manjit Narotra

”If you’re on the park that night, you’ve got to be a good player to play that game. If there’s any weakness at all on your mental side or physical side, then it’ll show. Mental side is a lot easier than the physical side at times. I found that as a football player, being a smaller one. The mental side, but physically now and then, there were just people who were too big and too strong.