Kasper Schmeichel was hoping to play Extra time against Bayern saying he ‘was loving every minute, another 30 would have been amazing’.
Kasper Schmeichel made eight saves during the second leg of Celtic’s play-off tie against Bayern Munich.
The Scottish champions were on track to force the Bundesliga leaders into extra time in their home stadium after ninety minutes of regular time in the second leg of Celtic’s Champions League play-off match against Bayern Munich.
Against a team they were overwhelming favourites to defeat, Bayern appeared shaken and unable to find the answers.
However, Kasper Schmeichel had swiped away Leon Goretzka’s header to send the German team through, and Alphonso Davies had scrambled home from close range in the last minute of four added on.
“Frustration, disappointment… I thought it was a heroic performance, very brave,” Schmeichel said in the wake of such a crushing blow.
“Football is a cruel game sometimes, that’s the emotion at the moment,” he added. “I was loving every minute so another 30 would have been amazing.”
Manager Brendan Rodgers was effusive in his praise for how his side went toe-to-toe with one of European football’s most prestigious outfits.
“We were outstanding, played without any fear,” the Northern Irishman said. “Defended so well, with discipline, pressed at the right moments, gave them issues on that side, and were able to be compact and tight in the right moment.
“It never looked like we were going to concede the goal that we did. I can only take immense pride from the performance – the guys gave everything.”
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.