CRAIG GORDON reckons European football for Celtic after Christmas is almost a certainty after the 3-0 midweek triumph over Anderlecht in Brussels.
The Scotland international keeper said: “That win gives us a massive opportunity now. It is a great result and it means a lot to us.
“We didn’t create that many chances, but we stuck away the ones we did manage to make so it is a great night’s work and as the group progresses I am sure it will turn out to be a very significant one.
“We probably didn’t expect 3-0 going into the game. We still felt we could have played better, but a 3-0 victory away from home is more than satisfying.”
It was the first time the Hoops had kept a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League and Gordon praised his back four and central defenders Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata, in particular.
He said: “We had to work for it at times, but the guys in front of me were brilliant.
“The two centre-halves dealt with most things that came their way, they were really solid together and they helped us keep the ball at times which kept us in control of the game.
“They were outstanding, they really stood up to the test. We were always going to have to defend away from home, but we restricted them to few opportunities.”
Celtic face a double-header against Bayern Munich next and Gordon insisted the win over the Belgians has eased the pressure.
He added: “We still go and try to win games, keep the ball and play the way we play. That result perhaps can give us a bit more freedom and get something from them.
“That result is big for us. We need to try and go one better and try to get something from Bayern Munich.”
The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP14) Champions League Special
