It’s true to say that in financial terms, Scottish football is a poor second in comparison to the riches of the English Premier League. But having visited all of the top stadiums south of the border, I have to say I believe it’s also true to say there’s not one that comes close to the electric atmosphere that is generated at Celtic Park on a Champions League night.
Etihad Dead but Celtic Park Is Alive and Kicking
No Atmosphere for Manchester City
Consider this from the great Peter Schmeichel who was working for CBS television when Manchester City entertained Inter Milan on Matchday 1 in a repeat of the 2023 Champions League final. He said: “It was dead, the Etihad, it was absolutely dead”.
His view was echoed by the captain of the Turkish national team and Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu who said he was surprised by the “very quiet” atmosphere at the Etihad and even went so far as to suggest that had the game taken place in the San Siro, Inter would have beaten Manchester City.
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The contrast in Glasgow could not have been more stark. Matchday 1 for Celtic saw them paired with Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava. “The noise before the game was mental” said Arne Engels, Celtic’s new £11 million signing from Bundesliga side Augsburg.
He’s right, the supporters made it yet another fabulous occasion with a noise before kick-off that is spine-tingling. My experience of European nights at Celtic Park also echoes what Engels has just explained.
Fans Help Their Team
As a young teenager, I can remember Celtic beating Real Madrid 2-0 in 1980 in the European Cup and I had never heard Celtic Park being as loud as it was that night. It’s a memory I forever cherish.
When I played my first European tie for Celtic against Borussia Dortmund 7 years later, the atmosphere and noise level together with the sheer excitement and anticipation was everything I expected it to be and more.
The fans’ energy undoubtedly helped us. I felt the roar of the crowd put a yard on my stride as we managed to beat our illustrious German opponents 2-1.
Calhanoglu was pretty much saying the same thing when he mentioned that had the City game been played at the San Siro, the atmosphere there would’ve helped Inter win.
I think he’s right. When tens of thousands of your fans get right behind their team, it can push players on and help them believe that they can achieve something special.
Having worked at all the major stadiums in England, the Etihad is not alone in being far too quiet. Arsenal could certainly do with more noise and support for their team. Manchester United have lost a bit of their sparkle on the pitch in recent years and you can feel it in the stands. A sense of drama in “Fergie Time” has been lost with a side that’s underachieved for years & fans who’ve forgotten how to lift their team.
Why Is the Atmosphere So Special in the East End of Glasgow?
Sure, they love their club but Celtic were, of course, the first British side to win the European Cup/Champions League in 1967 with an exciting, attacking brand of football.
But given their poor set of results in recent years, the fans are desperate to show it’s a club with a tremendous history, they play in a fantastic stadium and want to showcase all of that to the watching world.
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It’s a rich history that Celtic supporters celebrate, not just the Lisbon Lions being the best in Europe in 1967, they also reached the final again three years later. Regular appearances as far as the semi-final stage followed before standards dropped.
These days, the Big Five of England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy rake in the vast majority of the TV revenues and continue to get stronger and stronger, pushing huge clubs like Celtic that play in a poorer league further and further to one side.
However, the passion to support our clubs and the Scottish national team is something to admire.
Scotland Fans Make a Tournament Better
The European Championships in Germany this summer was a better tournament with the Scots in it. Our fans were magnificent, travelled in huge numbers, made great friends with their humour and would be welcomed back anytime.
Earlier this week, a UEFA report concluded that Scotland recorded significantly higher top-flight attendances per capita than any other European league. The conclusion is that we absolutely love our football here and, while we don’t threaten the latter stages of European competition very often, the fan experience we provide is hard to beat.
It’s worth mentioning that this is not the first time the atmosphere at Celtic Park has attracted attention.
Legends of the Game Praise Atmosphere at Celtic Park
The words in 2012 of Lionel Messi who has played in Glasgow many times echo this. He said: “I’ve been fortunate to play in some great stadiums in Europe with Barcelona but none compare to Celtic. The atmosphere their fans create make it a very special European night of football”.
The AC Milan & Italian legend Paulo Maldini had this to say about his experience in Glasgow: “Every professional footballer should seek to play at least one game at Celtic Park, I have never felt anything like it.”
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I couldn’t agree more. There is such a concept as the “12th man” and the Celtic fans played their part in a memorable start to this new-look Champions League format.
It might just help them get enough points to progress a little further in Europe’s elite competition than they have been for some time.
