BRENDAN RODGERS hailed his Celtic heroes after the heartbreak of a last-kick defeat at the Allianz Arena that ended the Champions League adventure.
Trailing 2-1 from last week’s first leg at Parkhead, the Hoops were winning 1-0 through a smart Nicolas Kuhn second-half strike to level the tie at 2-2 with extra-time fast approaching.
And then, with just seconds remaining in the four minutes of stoppage-time, a clearance from Cameron Carter-Vickers after yet another excellent save from Kasper Schmeichel cannoned off Alphonso Davies at the far post and ricocheted into the net.
There was rarely time to recentre the ball before the referee blew for full-time and the Euro dream had reached its terminus.
If there is such a thing, this was a glorious defeat.
ON A WING AND A DLAYER…Nicolas Kuhn celebrates his goal at the Allianz Arena.
Celtic did a lot to allow hope for a bright future among the European elite, but, once again in this competition, they failed to get a rub of the green.
Rodgers, quite rightly, was swift to salute the mighty efforts of his players against a Bayern Munich, eight points ahead in the Bundesliga, performing in front of their awesome support in Bavaria.
The Hoops gaffer said: “In terms of the performance, I’m very proud.
“Naturally, we’re hugely disappointed to concede so late, but this is Bayern Munich and we’ve come out here and played without any fear.
“We had opportunities – good ones – to win the game, we showed our courage with and without the ball and just pride, really, as well as disappointment because the guys gave so much to the game.
“The players gave everything and we made it really difficult for Bayern.
“Some of our football was at a really good level. We managed our way through the game how we wanted to.”
FLATTENED…Cameron Carter-Vickers is grounded as his clearance hits Alphonso Davies to rebound into the net for Bayern Munich’s equaliser on the night – and their winner on aggregate.
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “We started well, we created opportunities, we pressed at the right time, we sat in at the right moments and didn’t give away so much.
“Harry Kane hit the crossbar towards the end of the first-half, but other than that we were in a good place and had really good chances in the first-half – three really, really good chances.
“But I look at the performance and my takeaway from Europe is the credibility that we’ve gained this season.
“We’ve developed from last season and improved yet again this season and I’m really excited going forward what this team can do.”
Rodgers, with the champions due to face Hibs at Easter Road in the 12.30pm start on Saturday, added: “Now we can get back, we can recover, we’ve got two trophies now to aim for in this latter part of the season, so we want to make sure we’re in this competition again next season.
“My unswerving commitment is to make Celtic a seasoned team at this level and from last season to this season there have been improvements.”
