"I got there in time," says Alistair Johnston

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Q: What are you expecting from Aberdeen? They’re sort of getting back on track after a sticky period?

Alistair Johnston: “They are another team – similar to Hibs – in that way that they have picked up some form here. And again, a really talented squad. There’s a reason why they started off the season so well. You know, they can go, they can beat anyone home or away. So we’re expecting a difficult match there. And again, yeah, as you said, another team that’s picking up form. So we’re going to be prepared for that. We know that this is a big match for them. And obviously, it’s a big match for us coming back from a defeat on the weekend.”

18 02 2025, Champions League, FC Bayern Muenchen vs Celtic Glasgow, Allianz Arena. Alistair Johnston Celtic Glasgow vs Harry Kane FC Bayern Muenchen. Photo IMAGO

Q: Obviously, it’s been quite an emotional period in terms of the highs and lows of Munich and then losing to Hibs at the weekend. How important is it just to refocus and get going again tomorrow?

Alistair Johnston: “It’s super important. It’s what we touched on. It’s good in a way that there’s so many matches that it’s so just focus on the next one day after day. There’s no real time to dwell on things. It gives us an opportunity to get right back out there and, you know, right our wrongs to a degree. So no, there’s an excitement there from the group that we get another chance to go out there. This is a big week for us. Obviously three matches, you know, the last midweek match before the split. We’ll have one more after the split normally. So after this it gets, you know, the schedule for us gets a little bit slower with more, you know, one match kind of a week.

Alistair Johnston of Celtic looks dejected as they applaud the Celtic fans after the final whistle. Final score Bayern Munich 1 Celtic 1 Agg. 3-2. Bayern Munich v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Knockout Round Play-offs, Second Leg, Football, Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany – 18 February 2025 Ulrich Gamel/Shutterstock

“So it’s a big push here to get through this period right now. And yeah, we’ve got the squad for it. And hopefully, you know, Celtic Park on a midweek evening game. Normally those are pretty good. So we’re expecting a big turnout from the crowd and hopefully a big turnout from us as well.”