COMEBACK Bhoy Kris Commons celebrated his first European start of the season by setting up Celtic’s two goals against Ajax.
But the 32-year-old midfielder admitted he had “mixed emotions” after the 2-2 stalemate in Amsterdam.
He said: “I don’t think there was a real threat for the first 75 minutes.
“Their opening goal was pretty slick and good. They had lots and lots of possession in areas where we were comfortable.
“Personally, I never felt our goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, was getting worked so much.”I think Emilio Izaguirre’s sending-off certainly swayed it in their favour. They could gamble with an extra striker at that stage.
“Obviously, that put us on the back foot. We had a lot of tired legs out there towards the end.”But Commons was “delighted” to be back in the side after missing out on starts in the previous European ties.
He added: “The manager called me in before the match and said: ‘I need you, I need you to do what you usually do.
“‘If that’s not scoring goals, then creating goals’.”
Meanwhile Craig Gordon hailed Celtic’s £5.5million new Bhoy Jozo Simunovic after his debut in Amsterdam.
And now the keeper reckons things are coming together as they prepare for the visit of Fenerbahce to Parkhead for the next Europa League tie on Thursday, October 1.
Gordon said: “The 2-2 draw with Ajax is a good start to the campaign and I hope we can build on that.
“Jozo did very well. It’s a difficult place to make your first appearance and that was a fairly decent defensive performance.
“The defence needs time to settle, it always does, but we will work hard at it and will come good.”Now the Hoops are looking to return to winning ways on Sunday when Dundee are the visitors.
Gordon reckons the team’s showing against Ajax could prove beneficial in the pursuit of the club’s fifth successive Premiership title.
He added: “If we can take that performance back and work as hard as we did, then we will be better in the domestic games, as well.”
