CELTIC’S progress in Champions League performances can be charted by Auston Trusty’s experiences.
The USA international centre-back, a £6million deadline-day recruit from Sheffield United, made his first start among the elite in the 7-1 demolition in Dortmund in October.
Some four and a half months later, the defender played his role in Brendan Rodgers’ side’s commendable and courageous 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.
A last-kick goal in the fading seconds of stoppage-time brought an agonising conclusion to the Hoops’ European adventure, tumbling out of the prestigious competition on a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.
PICK IT OUT…Nicolas Kuhn races away in triumph after leaving Manuel Neuer helpless at the opening goal, much to the joy of team-mate Arne Engels.
It was a difficult exit for the visiting players to accept, but the startling rise from the debris in the same country earlier in the tournament to what was on show in Bavaria was almost beyond belief.
Beaten but unbowed and insisting there was pleasure among the pain, Trusty insists the only way now for Celtic is up.
The 26-year-old Pennsylvania-born left-sided operator said: “Naturally, I would have liked another goal. I would have liked a couple more goals.
“We had some good chances. I think we had the best chances in the game. It was pretty amazing.
“Yeah, it was a unique performance. I think this is just the beginning of it. The mindset of this team, again, when people count us out, we back ourselves.
“So, it’s only up from here.
“Coming here, we had everyone who doubted us, everyone who counted us out. The result we got at the end of the day is something to be proud of and how we did this entire campaign is something to be proud of.
HIGH HOPES…Alistair Johnston takes to the air as he joins Daizen Maeda and Jeffrey Schlupp after Nicolas Kuhn’s breakthrough strike in Munich.
“The mindset was ‘why not us?’. We have the ability, we have the mindset and it’s really up to us. We went out there and showed that.
“The tie, we really should have won, but we tied up at the end. It shows a lot of the team how much we back ourselves.”
Trusty, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Honestly, there have been many highs throughout this entire campaign.
“I couldn’t pick just one, but it’s a pleasure to play with these guys every single day, every single game.
“And a lot of teams, a lot of people, have counted us out in certain situations, but to see us back each other and get results, that’s what it means to be a good player here.
“We were extremely confident coming into this game and against any team we play. That’s just the mindset of the team. We can only build from here and that’s really what you want to see.
“Obviously, you don’t want the result in Dortmund, but, at the same time, when you have nights like that, it shakes you to your core and it’s only up from there.
WELL DONE…Brendan Rodgers acclaims his players and the Celtic fans after the heartbreaking finale in the Allianz Arena.
“It shows the true backbone of the team because a lot of teams wouldn’t come forward after that. To see this organisation and to see this team come together after that and only rise and get better and better each game, it’s pretty amazing.
“That’s the team you want to play for, that’s what you want to be in.”
The cultured back-four performer added: “My confidence is extremely high. I back myself.
“The best thing about being in this competition is that when you do your thing and play your game, no one can take that away from you.
“This is the highest level of club competition. I can play my game and I’m playing at the highest level.”
It’s back to the domestic scene and the task of continuing to collect points against Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday with a 12.30pm kick-off in the capital.
Anyone in the rival camp hoping for a Bayern backfire are about to be disappointed.
