GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 15: cel9 during the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park on December 15, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Celtic striker Adam Idah has reflected on the team’s 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday and is looking ahead to the second leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday with optimism and determination.
Idah, who started the match but was substituted for Jota in the 65th minute, had a challenging outing. A Nicolas Kuhn goal was ruled out just 25 seconds in, with Idah seemingly involved in the play. Despite the setback, the Irish forward is eager to seize the opportunity to turn the tie around in Munich, particularly after his impressive performances in Europe, including a brace against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
With strong showings in away games against Villa and Atalanta in Bergamo, Idah has proven his ability to deliver on big European nights. Speaking about the upcoming clash, Idah remained positive despite the first-leg loss:
“I think it’s just about having confidence and belief going into these big games. We’ve shown we can go toe-to-toe with the big teams; now it’s about going out there and proving it. The last 15-20 minutes [of the first leg] were really strong for us, and the fans were incredible. Everyone’s excited for Tuesday—we’re still in it, and we’re ready to give it our all.”
The Celtic dressing room is united in its message: the tie is far from over. At 2-1 down, progression may seem unlikely given Bayern’s formidable home record at the Allianz Arena, but the Hoops are determined to fight.
For Idah, Wednesday’s game required him to sacrifice his usual attacking threat, often dropping deep to support the midfield and hold up the ball. While he couldn’t make a significant impact against Bayern, his performance against Villa showcased his ability to score against elite European opponents.
This leaves Brendan Rodgers with a decision to make for the second leg: stick with Idah, who has proven he can find the net in high-stakes matches, or opt for Maeda, who scored after replacing him in the first leg. Either way, Celtic will need a clinical performance to overcome the odds in Munich.
