I have to say that, at this point, my normally pessimistic outlook had been replaced by the strongest feeling that we would actually get a fifth, to take the match to extra-time and certain Celtic victory.
There is a last throw of the dice from Gordon Strachan, as Jeremie Aliadiere comes on for Thompson for what would prove to be the final three minutes of his fledgling Celtic career. Agonisingly, however, the clock ticks down furiously as the chances are passed up, one following another as the tension becomes unbearable.
It had been close enough to touch but suddenly there is a blast on the Spanish referee’s whistle, and we are cruelly, so cruelly, out of the Champions League and, indeed, Europe altogether for this season.
In fairness, it had been a tremendous effort by the team on the night to repair the desperate damage from Bratislava, however, ultimately, we had fallen just short of creating history. Celtic captain Neil Lennon summed up his feelings after an incredible roller-coaster of a night.
“I think everyone could see tonight that the boys are right behind the manager and we’re all pleased for him. We only have ourselves to blame after letting ourselves down last week but tonight there was quality, passion and everything you’d want from a Celtic team. We can take a lot from the performance and the fact we never gave up. The dressing-room is a bit subdued, but we wanted to give it everything tonight and we certainly did that.”
Artmedia Bratislava manager Vladimir Weiss was a much happier and also a mightily relieved man.
“I have never seen such an atmosphere in all my years in football. It was a difficult job to convince the players that miracles couldn’t happen coming into this game. Thank God there was no miracle but there almost was! I am very proud of my team.”
He would have further cause to feel that sense of pride. As Gordon Strachan’s men licked their wounds and the Hoops support put their European dreams on hold for another season, the Slovakian side went on to prove that they were perhaps a better side than their reputation and co-efficient had suggested.
