MORITZ BAUER got his first taste of Scottish football at Ibrox on Sunday when he came on for the last half hour replacing the injured Nir Bitton. Elhamed dropped into the centre of defence with the new arrival on a season long loan from Stoke City taking his place at right back.
Bauer, like all his Celtic teammates performed admirably and the notable features of his contribution was those long throws – something Celtic have seldom benefited from – and of course skinning Rangers thug Jordan Jones in the closing moments which resulted in the Ibrox winger violent assault in the Celtic player. Bobby Madden had no hesitation in showing him the red card, and Jones hobbled off having rather gloriously managed to injure himself in the process.
Word is he was fined a week’s wages and could be out or six months. He was not named in their Euopra League squad and of course the Rangers signed Ryan Kent from Liverpool reserves in a paying up deal with apparently £2million due over the next few weeks.
Talking of the Europa League a few eyebrows were raised when the Ibrox club released their prices for their three group stage matches and it became clear that they were charging £40 more than Celtic for the three match package.
50,000 seats each producing an an extra £40 will bring in just under £2million (remember 3000 seats have to remain empty for the first game due to their fans racist and sectarian singing).
But it’s nearly enough to pay Liverpool the £2million that’s apparently going to become payable.
Kent’s arrival isn’t great news for the injured Jordan Jones who will serve out his suspension for the tackle on Moritz Bauer while he’s out of action. Apparently Jones phoned the Celtic defender to apologise for the reckless tackle, which is something.
Jordan Jones leaving Ibrox on crutches after getting the worst of a tackle he got a red card for is almost too good ???? #Celtic pic.twitter.com/NzllmjGG8G
— VDZE Media 視覺 ???????????????????????????? (@VizualDze) September 1, 2019
Speaking to the new edition of the Celtic View, Bauer is clear about his own targets for the season.
“I’m well aware of that and I want to bring something to the table. I want to be part of that squad, I want to be an improvement and I think that Celtic have put a lot of trust in me.
“So I want to pay back double that trust they have put in me. This positive pressure that we have here, can give us an extra lift.
“I’m a very attacking full-back and an energetic player who gets up and down the wing. My dynamics are pace and power. It depends on what the coach demands from the team, but as I am a defender, I obviously have to defend as well, but I like to get involved in the attack also.
“The fans can expect a very hard worker. It is pressure, of course, but I think there’s nothing better than playing for trophies, because that’s what it’s all about, as having a season target of finishing about eighth is not the same.
“I love being here and having the target of being first and I like that pressure. There are players here who have already won titles, and it’s a big opportunity for me to learn from them and grow as a player as I hope to be part of a successful team.”
For the full interview with Moritz Bauer, see this week’s Celtic View – out now.
Meanwhile good luck to the four Celtic stars involved in the Scotland squad for this evening’s crucial Euro qualifier against Russia at Hampden. Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Ryan Christie and new Bhoy Greg Taylor will all be hoping to be named in Steve Clarke’s starting eleven. Fingers crossed for a decent result and no injuries!
???????????????????????????? 3̶ 4 Scottish Bhoys on senior International duty.
Good luck to @ScotlandNT in their #EURO2020 qualifying games against Russia and Belgium! ???? pic.twitter.com/dcNYzHc8Y1
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 4, 2019
Also on The Celtic Star…
‘AIK will not stand for any form of racism,’ says club official after Celtic players targeted…see HERE.
Latest Injury Blow for Celtic – Lithuania send injured Shved back to Lennoxtown…see HERE.
‘A Score to Settle,’ Celtic Star Calmac’s Europa League Lowdown on Cluj, Rennes and Lazio…see HERE.
Forster on his First Clean Sheet since Returning to Celtic and it was in the ‘Glasgow Derby’ Big Man…see HERE.
‘Another superstar in the making,’ Watch Edouard’s Sensational Double for France…see HERE.
‘Bolingolilicious’, ‘Best twitter moment for ages,’ Celtic Join Bolingoli ‘Name Change’ Love In…see HERE.
Ewan Henderson’s ‘Burning Ambition to try and play first team football’….see HERE.
