“I always like coming here, I like the history of the club,” Marco Rose

“I always like coming here, I like the history of the club, I appreciate fan culture a lot,” Marco Rose, RB Leipzig manager…

Marco Rose's pitch walk at Celtic Park yesterday
Celtic v RB Leipzig / Glasgow, 04.11.2024, Celtic Park, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Glasgow vs. RB Leipzig, Matchday-1 , Pitchwalk Trainer Marco Rose RB Leipzig. Photo Imago

Leipzig boss Marco Rose was full of admiration for the Celtic support at yesterday’s press conference at Paradise ahead of this evening’s hugely exciting clash between the Scottish champions and the Bundesliga club in Champions League matchday four.

Three defeats from three in Champions League

Despite only losing one domestic match so far this season which came on Saturday night against Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion, Leipzig have lost each of their three opening matches in Europe’s elite club competition this campaign. Although, it is worth noting they have faced Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool.

 Marco Rose at Celtic Park in 2022
Marco Rose, Head Coach of FC Leipzig reacts during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Celtic FC and FC Leipzig at Celtic Park on October 11, 2022 . (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“We know what we have until now is not enough and we need to start getting points some day. We are not talking too much about the points. Everyone is aware of the situation, the boys are very aware of it, you can feel it in the dressing room,” Rose said.

Meanwhile, the 48 year-old impressive German coach is going for five wins from five against Celtic in his managerial career and a hat-trick of victories at Paradise tonight. Rose was boss RB Salzburg boss when the Austrians defeated Brendan Rodgers’ side in Glasgow’s East End in the Europa League group stages back in December 2018. Despite losing the match on the night, the Hoops went through in 2nd place courtesy of a late Rosenborg equaliser in Germany against Celtic’s opposition tonight.

Marco Rose has a decent record against Celtic 

Rose then returned to Parkhead two years ago for Leipzig’s comfortable 0-2 win over Ange Postecoglou’s team. Late strikes from Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg piled on another miserable European campaign where Celtic took only two points from 18 in season 2022/2023.

However, following Celtic’s 0-0 draw in Bergamo against the Europa League holders Atalanta a fortnight ago, it seems like changed days in Europe for the Hoops. There is genuine expectation that a memorable European night could be in the offing for Brendan Rodgers’ men this evening.

The rockus Celtic Park atmosphere

Appreciating the part the raucous Celtic Park atmosphere can play, Leipzig manager Marco Rose insisted his players will need to be ready for the tough challenge awaiting them.

Marco Rose at Celtic Park in 2018
RB Salzburg Head Coach Marco Rose shouts instructions during the UEFA Europa League Group B match between Celtic and RB Salzburg at Celtic Park on December 13, 2018. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“The fans mean you need to be ready if you want to win here. It will be a great atmosphere, and we have to use it because we like to play in these kinds of stadiums.

“We will have to defend all they give us moments to defend as well. But I’m sure we’ll get our chances in possession and transition and when we do, we have to take these chances,” Marco Rose said.

Marco Rose, Head Coach of RB Leipzig
Marco Rose, Head Coach of RB Leipzig, gives an interview prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC at Leipzig Stadium on October 23, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) by Matt Corr published today

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr, Volumes One & Two, Published by Celtic Star Books, November 2024. Image The Celtic Star

The very best of luck to Matt Corr whose double volume history of Celtic in the 1930s is published today on Celtic Star Books.

Telling the Celtic story is always worthwhile and Matt has become an esteemed Celtic story-teller in recent years since his first book Invincible which was published in 2020 before co-writing the best seller Walfrid and The Bould Bhoys with Liam Kelly and the late David Potter.

Since then he’s written the official Harry Hood biography (Harry Hood, Twice as Good) and Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season at Celtic.

Now though Matt takes his Celtic work to another level with Celtic in the Thirties, Volume One & Two, which has taken three years to research and write and features every player who played for Celtic in that incredibly dramatic decade for the club and indeed the world.

You can order your signed copies from Celtic Star Books and these will be posted alongside all the pre-ordered copies tomorrow. Please note that postage is only charged on the first book.

Click to order from Celtic Star Books

Order your signed copies from Celtic Star Books
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. OUT NOW!

Click to order from Celtic Star Books

About Author

A current third year student studying History and Journalism, Media and Communications at the University of Strathclyde and now writing regularly about the Hoops for The Celtic Star.

1 Comment

  1. I think you need to brush up on your journalistic skills, mate!. I was at the game in 2018 and we beat Leipzig 2-1, with Tierney and Edouard scoring the goals