Troy Deeney has criticized Bayern Munich’s lackluster display against Celtic, claiming their players looked “embarrassed” after narrowly progressing to the Champions League last 16.
Bayern needed a 94th-minute equalizer from Alphonso Davies to salvage a 1-1 draw at home, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory after winning the first leg 2-1.
Despite their status as Bundesliga giants, Vincent Kompany’s side struggled against a determined Celtic, who had taken the lead through Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Deeney didn’t hold back in his assessment.
“Looking at the Bayern players, they looked embarrassed,” he said. “They stood in front of their fans, doing their usual post-match celebration, but they didn’t even look like they wanted to be there.”
Deeney praised Celtic’s performance, calling their late elimination a “sickener” and highlighting how much Bayern had been on the ropes.
“The best players on the pitch were from Celtic. Bayern had maybe two or three who could hold their heads high, the rest were nowhere near their best,” he added. “If they play like that in the next round, they’re getting knocked out.”
Despite the heartbreak, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers took pride in his team’s effort, insisting their European standing had been restored.
“Our European credibility has been rebuilt this season,” Rodgers said. “We’ve played with real quality and confidence. It wasn’t the result the players deserved, especially conceding right at the end.”
Rodgers emphasized the team’s growth, believing Celtic are on the right path to becoming a seasoned European contender.
“My goal is to keep improving this team. If we can strengthen the squad, especially in terms of depth, we’ll take another step forward next season.”
With Bayern now awaiting their last-16 opponents in Friday’s draw, Celtic will shift their focus back to domestic ambitions, aiming for success in both the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.