Leaving Leipzig

Celtic fans started to depart Leipzig for Berlin straight after the game. For other fans Leipzig was home for another night to continue the party. For myself and the bhoys it was food and drink and a time to reflect on a poor night at the office for an injury hit Celtic team.

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I’m sure when Ange Postecoglou talked about squad rotation he did not have a big Champions League night away from home on his mind. But utilise the squad he had to do with his first choice central defensive partnership out injured. Mooy and Abada were also missing from the travelling party.

Throw influential captain, Callum McGregor onto the injury list after going off last night and it was always going to be an up hill battle against a team who are said to have the best squad in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich have the best first 11 in the league but RB Leipzig have strength in debt for every position.

Jota did give us cause for celebration but over all the home side were better than us on the night. The Celtic players and Ange got a great reception in defeat from the majority of Celtic fans who stayed till the end. Jota’s interview and his acknowledgement of the Celtic support was a nice touch and softened the blow a little as I fell into my hotel bed exhausted with an early alarm call on my mind.

As dark turned into light in the early hours of this morning Celtic fans continued to leave the city for home. The travelling support included fans who had travelled from Dubai, Norway, Canada and the US for the  big game. Its incredible the attraction Celtic away games in Europe have for the faithful.

When you consider how little we win away from home in these competitions, it just goes to show that its not all about the glory hunt for Celtic fans. Its more about being part of the journey even though we crave the day that we win away. Sure we never stop singing about it!

My journey took me from Leipzig to Hamburg on the train and then onto Dublin with the budget airline. All on time and with little hassle. I had spoken to fans who had 3 flights to get home so I was glad to get home late this afternoon after the camel ride I had after our game in Warsaw.

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The next Euro journey takes us to Madrid in early November. We will be there to cover the Celtic fans  journey in the Spanish capital and home away in Scotland. To everyone I met on this journey thanks for the company, the chats and the craic. Don’t forget to follow the journey on the website, on social media, in our fanzine, More than 90 Minutes, on audio on the Celtic Soul Podcast and on video at Celtic Fanzine TV.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes Celtic Fanzine which he started in 2001. He has been involved with fanzines since 1989 and has written for numerous publications and online about Celtic.He is a former newspaper columnist with the Daily Ireland and the man behind celticfanzine.com.He is host of the Celtic Soul Podcast, Talk form the Terrace Podcast, Grand Auld History Podcast on Celtic Fanzine TV.He has hosted the live show Celtic AM in Thailand, USA, Ireland and Scotland and follows Celtic Home & Away.He is the man behind the Thailand Celtic Supporters Festival and the official merchandise designer and supplier for the NAFCSC Las Vegas Convention.He is a season ticket holder for Celtic FC and the Republic of Ireland. He is also P.R.O. of St. Margaret’s CSC, a member of the Celtic Trust and the Celtic Graves Association.

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