Auston Trusty insists he is ‘playing at the highest level’ as the American centre-back spoke to the media after Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening…
Q: What were your thoughts on the match and the result?
Auston Trusty: “Coming here we had everyone who doubted us, everyone who counted us out. I think the result we got at the end of the day is something to be proud of and how we did this entire campaign is something to be proud of.”
Q: It’s easy to come and say, yeah, we’ll be bold, we’ll seize the day and all the things that were said, but to go and do it in this place took some courage, didn’t it?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, I think the mindset was why not us? We have the ability, we have the mindset, and it’s really up to us. I think we went out there and showed that you know, to come out here and get the result. The tie, you know, we really should have won but we tied up at the end. It shows a lot of the team how much we back ourselves.”
Q: Once the disappointment fades, what does it do for you as a team going forward?
Auston Trusty: “I think we’re extremely confident, you know. I think we’re extremely confident coming into this game and against any team we play. That’s just the mindset of the team, I think. We can only build from here and that’s really what you want to see.”
Q: The manager has spoken about progress at this level. This campaign’s evidence of that, isn’t it? Celtic have progressed and restored a bit of pride, haven’t they?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, of course. I think the squad that they’ve created, they’ve brought here, and the mindset we have as an organisation, you know, I think it says a lot about the team and how good the mindset is. So, we’re improving every chance we get.”
Q: What do you think it’s done for you? You’ve broken through as a first pick during this campaign. You’ve been part of some great defensive performances. What has it done for you as a player, for your confidence?
Auston Trusty: “My confidence is extremely high. I back myself. I think the best thing I play in this competition is that when you do your thing and play your game, no one can take that away from you. No critics, no nothing. This is the highest level of club competition. So, no one can take anything away from you, any doubt. That’s the best part about it. No one can say anything. I can play my game and I’m playing at the highest level.”
Q: What’s been the highlight for you?
Auston Trusty: “Honestly, there’s been many highs throughout this campaign. I couldn’t pick just one, but it’s a pleasure to play with these guys every single day, every single game. A lot of teams and a lot of people have counted us out in certain situations, but to see us back each other and get results, that’s what it means to be a good player here.”
Sad to see our @ChampionsLeague League campaign come to an end. We fought for everything last night. Proud of the boys and the effort put in🍀
Thank you to all the supporters💚 pic.twitter.com/SuRmM7VnFY
— Auston Trusty (@Auston_Trusty) February 19, 2025
Q: As well as playing in this place, what was that like as an experience?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, it’s a dream come true. When I was back in the States playing. I was playing here on FIFA. So, to have it in real life and to see the person playing the pitch and have the environment and stuff like that cheering us on and creating the atmosphere here, you know, it’s pretty magical.”
Q: Has a bar been set with this European performance though?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, it was a unique performance. I think this is just the beginning of it. The mindset of this team, again, when people count us out, we back ourselves. So it’s only up from here.”
Q: It’s an incredible thought that everybody’s talked about when you came to Dortmund in September, and it was such a big setback for the club. And how much you seem to have grown from there and learned to come here tonight and do that. That’s a bit special, isn’t it?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, I mean, obviously you don’t want the result in Dortmund, but at the same time, when you have nights like that, you know, it shakes you to your core and it’s only up from there. It shows the true backbone of the team because a lot of teams come forward after that. To see this organisation and to see this team, you know, come together after that and only rise and get better and better each game, it’s pretty amazing. That’s the team you want to play for, that’s what you want to be in.”
Q: You spoke after that Dortmund game and said you would learn, and it would get better. You went to Bergamo, and you shut Atalanta out. You spoke after that as well and you told everybody that it would get better. So, it’s just been a kind of progression from that, isn’t it?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, absolutely. When there’s lows, there’s highs to come. So, again, it shows the true backbone of the team.”
Q: What was the moment like when Nicolas Kuhn scored, and you looked up and saw the fans?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, it was magical. I mean, it is what dreams are made of. I would have liked another goal. I would have liked a couple more goals.”
Q: You had chances. didn’t you?
Auston Trusty: “Yeah, we had some good chances. I think we had the best chances in the game. Yeah, it was pretty amazing.”
Q: Callum McGregor said you would this as fuel to go again next season, do you agree with that?
Auston Trusty: “Yes. That’s the mindset at this football club.”
Sign up and receive a free Henrik Larsson book…
