DEFIANT Cameron Carter-Vickers is convinced Celtic can hurt Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena next week.
The USA international defender and his Hoops team-mates are already trailing from the 2-1 midweek loss at Parkhead as they head to Bavaria for the return leg of their Champions League play-off on Tuesday.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are already being written off by many observers after failing to take anything from home advantage.
Plus the Hoops have yet to win on their four games on their travels in this European adventure, losing 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund in Germany and 4-2 to Aston Villa in the Midlands and drawing 0-0 on both occasions against Atalanta in Bergamo and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
KANE AND ABLE…Cameron Carter-Vickers (second right) gets a close-up view of the Bayern Munich striker’s qualities as the English international fires in the winner against Celtic.
The hosts were undone far too easily on two costly occasions in the east end of Glasgow to leave themselves with a massive challenge if they are to gatecrash the next stages of European football’s elite competition.
Just moment before the interval, the lively Michael Olise was allowed to run on to a raking long pass, accept a bobble off the shins of Greg Taylor, turn inside the left-back and then unleash an unstoppable drive into the roof of Kasper Schmeichel’s net.
The second-half was only four minutes old when Carter-Vickers and his fellow-defenders switched off at a left-wing corner-kick and were punished by goal thief Harry Kane who could hardly believe his good fortune to be presented with an opportunity only four yards out.
However, Daizen Maeda’s 79th-minute header has thrown Rodgers’ men a lifeline – and the £6million former Spurs centre-back insists their chances should not be dismissed.
LIFELINE…Cameron Carter-Vickers races to congratulate Daizen Maeda after the Japanese striker’s goal gives Celtic a glimmer of hope against Bayern Munich.
Carter-Vickers said: “It was an interesting game. I think in the first-half we contained them fairly well, probably a bit too passive maybe in some of our defensive moments.
“We could have been a bit better on the ball. In the last 20-25 minutes we grew into the game and showed we can hurt them.
“By the end of it, we were on the front foot and looking pretty good. Later on, we started to get our passing game together and kept the ball for periods of time. When we’ve done that, we’ve looked dangerous.
“That’s definitely something we need to try and do next week.”
The rugged back-four performer, speaking to STV, continued: “As long as it’s one goal, it’s definitely game on.
“For us, it’s probably about going over there and either trying to keep that scoreline or better it for as long as we can, trying to take the game to the dying minutes.
BALL BHOY…Alistair Johnston thwarts Bayern Munich dangerman Harry Kane on this occasion.
“I know we conceded two at home, but I can’t remember too many big chances that they had, really.
“A couple of sloppy mistakes from us led to their two goals, but apart from that, for a large part, we contained them well. They had a lot of possession, but probably didn’t create too much.
“We know we’ve got that side, so it’s just about on that ball, that belief that we can go and hurt them and create chances and score goals.”
Carter-Vickers, who is preparing for the champions’ home Premiership encounter against Dundee United tomorrow afternoon, added: “I don’t think anything major needs to change.
“Like I said, it’s just about building that belief that we showed in the last 25 minutes on the ball and knowing that we can hurt them if we’re brave and put our passes together.”
TIME FOR THE REAL CELTIC TO STAND UP: ‘100 PER CENT,’ INSISTS KUHN
