On Thursday in Germany we witnessed the passion, noise and colour Celtic fans bring to European Football. The atmosphere was incredible inside the stadium in Stuttgart. Celtic fans bounced and sang for over 90 minutes to the beat of the Bhoys Ultras drummer who never stopped all night.

After how easy the Germans beat Celtic in Glasgow expectations were not high for a win from conversations I had with Celtic fans while traveling over the day before the match or on match day in the fanzone while enjoying a few beers in the pleasant sunshine. The good weather added to a great trip.

The early Celtic goal really added to the atmosphere and if the small band of Celtic fans with tickets can bring  some of that atmosphere to Ibrox today than it will surly give the Celtic players a lift.

The players responded to the noise from the terraces on Thursday and put                                            in a big shift. Stuttgart’s singing section behind the goals is very impressive full stand for their fans to gather who want to stand, sing and wave their massive flags, I closed my eyes and imagined a Celtic End like that. Once the Green Brigade ban is lifted we need to start having the conversation again about the Celtic End.

The win was Celtic’s first in Germany in the club’s history but it was not enough to take us into the next round of the Europa League. The result and performance will have given Martin O’Neill and the players a confidence boost ahead of the big league today.

When the full time whistle sounded on Thursday the chant was “Bring on the rangers” so let’s be having them and hopefully we can turn them over on their home patch its been a while!

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

The sunshine is out here in Stuttgart for the match day. I arrived in the city yesterday via Frankfurt. Celtic fans were taking advantage of the good weather and enjoying what the city has to offer. There was a visible but low key Police presence in the city ahead of the Europa League tie around the central train station.

Last night we took a stroll around the city and bumped in so many familiar faces from Celtic European away days. Celtic fans have travelled from all over and there are more arriving in today. The city square and the steps of the grand old building which shadows it brought back some happy memories of our trip to the city back in 2003. The meeting place today for Celtic fans is Biergarten im Schlossgarten which is directly next to Stuttgart Central Train Station.

Martin O’ Neill spoke yesterday to the media ahead of the game and it is expected that he will make some changes to the team which lost to Hibs on Sunday  and rest some key players ahead of Sunday’s visit to Ibrox for the Scottish League clash with the rangers. The game will also give fringe squad players a chance to impress the manager in a competitive game.

O’Neill described the players as decent when asked about squad rotation. He also addressed the controversial VAR decisions from last weekend game. The game is live on TV this evening and kicks off here at 18:45 (17:45 Celtic Park Time).

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

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In 2003 we were 3-1 up when we arrived in Stuttgart ahead of the second leg UEFA Cup clash. We left with a 5-4 aggregate win that night and the current bunch of Celtic players would have to do the same to pull off the greatest escape. None of us believe that is possible so we will go on a Jolly Bhoys to Germany something like we did in pre-season when we went to Portugal and Cork. Same faces different places.

It’s hard to believe a year ago we were pushing Bayern Munich all the way in the Champions League and now we are travelling to the same country to say a farewell to European football for another year.

The defeat to Hibs was another sore defeat to take on Sunday so soon after conceding 4 against the Germans. On Sunday we witnessed VAR at its worse. The Trusty sending off and the Scales penalty just sum up how corrupt the powers that be in Scottish Football are. Even Rangers own Ally McCoist called it out on Talk Sport.

Celtic have always been up against the establishment in Scottish Football but when you have a board of directors asleep at the wheel for over 12 months. Dermot Desmond still dictates what they do or don’t do but remains absent from Celtic Park.

Club Legend Martin O’Neill answered the call twice and got the new managers bounce on both occasions. Results and late winners have plastered over the cracks but eventually they did appear and he looked exhausted and frustrated on Sunday after the game when he spoke to the media.

When he made way for Wilfried Nancy he told anyone that would listen that the team needed quality echoing the words of Brendan Rodgers. What O’Neill got on his return was a mishmash of loan signings. Not another penny indeed!

After we have our little holiday in Germany all our focus will be on Ibrox on Sunday. With Motherwell chasing are we now in 4 horse race? Hearts are still in pole position my heart tells me Celtic can turn it around but my head is thinking different. I am keeping the faith but it is proving hard.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

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Over the course of match day on Thursday I spoke to numerous Celtic fans who all have their opinions on how the game would go and the over all picture now at Celtic. There is a deep divide among the Celtic support. Last week we all had high hopes that talks between the Celtic board and Celtic supporters would see a blanket ban on the Green Brigade being lifted ahead of Thursday nights game.

Sadly it now seems that the meeting was a box ticking exercise by the Celtic board and a PR stunt. Pre-match the Stuttgart fans enjoyed themselves in Glasgow’s city centre pubs mixing with Celtic fans and exchanging stories from their last visit to Celtic Park back in 2003.

Celtic were a different animal back then and Martin O’Neill knew every one of his players inside out, because of the cluster f**k of a season he now has to try plaster over the cracks and do everything he can twice a week to try and get results with the current team. The Green Brigade remain banned and it was the Stuttgart Ultras who were in full voice on Thursday night. They brought their flags, their drums and their loudspeaker. They brought colour and they sang for 90 minutes. They even unfurled a banner in solidarity to the Green Brigade.

Celtic Park is no longer the fortress it once was on European nights. I am not sure if throwing tennis ball onto the pitch served any purpose on the night or brought any more support to the Celtic Fan Collective. Social Media was as toxic on the night as ever. Blaming Celtic fans for the teams performance last night or the state of play at Celtic is wrong. The fault of Celtic’s decline lies with Dermot Desmond and an under performing board.

Dermot Desmond was absent again last night from the directors box. He has not been seen at the stadium since Martin ‘Neill’s first game in charge against Falkirk back in October. It was sad to see the ground almost empty when the referee blew the final whistle. Thursday night felt like the life was being sucked out of Celtic both on the field and in the stands.

Father time is catching up on Kasper but hearing him being booed by Celtic fans is wrong and I think most Celtic supporters would agree with me. The Ultras are not everybody’s cup of tea but win, lose or draw they back the team from the first whistle till the last.

After the game Stuttgart fans celebrated in Glasgow pubs while we watched on knowing our trip to Germany is a lost cause but we will still travel and enjoy the trip. I don’t expect any of the travelling support to boo any of the Celtic players. Lets hope that was a one off.

Martin O’Neill will be able to rest some key players in Germany ahead of the rangers game at Ibrox but before that he must now pick up the Celtic players after Thursday nights hammering for the Hibs game today which should see Alex Oxlade Chamberlain make his first start for Celtic and we will need him.

As the Stuttgart Fans sang last night “Always look on the bright side of life” I try to but it can frustrating when you consider how close Celtic pushed Bayern Munich around this time last year in the Champions League before the club went it to reverse and crashed  it into a wall last night in the Europa League.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

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