CRAIG GORDON admitted he was grateful for the backing of the Celtic fans and his team-mates after being at fault for Inter Milan’s third goal.
The comeback keeper flapped at the ball before presenting it to Rodrigo Palacio who put the Italians 3-2 ahead at the interval,
Gordon said: “It’s not a nice thing to give away a goal like that.
“I’m thankful for the reactions of the supporters and also to my team-mates, who rallied round
“The reaction from the fans helped me. It allowed me to get over that mistake and continue in the game and go on and play a decent second-half.
“Obviously, I’d like them to be singing my name for different reasons.
“We probably deserved a draw and John Guidetti’s equaliser keeps the tie alive for the second leg” observed the big keeper.
Meanwhile Ronny Deila praised the Celtic support for their awesome backing in the 3-3 draw with Inter Milan at Parkhead last night.
The Hoops boss admitted he had never experienced anything like it and thanked the fans for getting right behind the team, despite a dreadful start to the Europa League tie when the Italians scored twice in 13 minutes.
He said: “It was an unbelievable football match with an unbelievable atmosphere. I’m so proud of the boys because we went two down so early in the match and it’s hard to get back from that, especially against Italian teams.
“But we have talked the whole year about being brave, wanting the ball and trying to attack and create things and that’s why I’m proud because we caused them problems.
“We got a result in the end, but we wanted a better one and we could have if we didn’t give them two easy goals.
“It’s going to be very tough in the second leg. We have to be a little bit lucky and put together the best performance we have done so far under my command.
“So, it will be tough, but it’s possible.
“I believe we can score in the San Siro, but the most important thing is that we don’t concede as many as we did at Celtic Park.
“We have a good chance of scoring, but defensively we have to be much better than we were in the first leg. We are looking forward to the game.”
And a defiant Gary Mackay-Steven, fresh from an impressive European debut, believes Celtic can find success in the San Siro.
The winger, who arrived in a £2million double deal with Stuart Armstrong from Dundee United last month, said: “Maybe we gave Inter a little bit too much respect at the start.
“We let them pass it and get into their rhythm.
“But once we got in their faces and started running at them, we created a lot of chances.
“I think we’re very much still in the tie and can go to Milan on Thursday and get the result we need.
“It was an unbelievable occasion. I’m really happy to have made my European debut at Celtic Park and to do it in a game of this magnitude was special.
“The atmosphere was everything I’d hoped it would be and more.
“Obviously, we didn’t get off to the best of starts, but I think we showed our fighting spirit to get a draw.
“In the end I think we deserved it.”
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