Harry Kewell calls it rock and roll under Ange Postecoglou but the Celtic boss might feel more like singing the blues after this Champions League campaign.
Or perhaps more like a wistful country and western crooner with a tale of woe and wishful laments for what might have been. It was a now familiar tune last night. Celtic hit the high notes a couple of times but were punished when they were off-key for a second.
That’s all it took for things to turn flat again. Reo Hatate’s loose pass in midfield, a couple of seconds later and the ball was fizzing into Joe Hart’s net. Up to that point it was easy listening for Celts. Giorgos Giakoumakis proved again why he’s the Parkhead side’s best front man and the Hoops were on course to finally get the win they craved to keep the Europa League miracle alive.
But punishment is severe when you’re up against heavy metal merchants like Shakhtar Donetsk. The weird thing was, Celtic didn’t do their usually full thrash routine last night. It was more smooth jazz that got them in to a winning position as the Hoops gradually found their rhythm instead of blasting out the greatest hits from kick-off.
It meant there was still plenty of juice in the tank for a wild final 20 minutes that threatened to get Celtic Park really rocking. But the old woes in front of goal means there will be the sound of silence when it comes to Hoops fans in Europe after Christmas.
It hasn’t been straight forward for Postecoglou and it wasn’t again last night. Lining up without captain Callum McGregor and Jota was like U2 taking the stage without Bono and The Edge.
Yet no one can really accuse Celtic of not putting on a show in Europe this season. Group F was a coulda, woulda, shoulda long before Shakhtar came to town.
Hart suggesting the Hoops might have been in with a shout of winning the section but for a couple of twists of fate was a bit of a leap. But there’s no doubt there’s been several sliding doors moments along the way.
What if McGregor’s effort went in, in that breathless first half against Real Madrid? What if Daizen Maeda had his shooting boots on the right feet against the Spaniards and a couple of times in the Leipzig double header?
What if one more of those numerous attempts on goal in two games against Shakhtar had gone in? Mind you, if ifs and buts were whisky and nuts we’d all have a merry old Christmas. In contrast, you get the feeling the Ukrainians have managed to break out the Scotch and KP dry roasted.
They were under the cosh in Leipzig yet beat the Germans 4-1 on the break. It was a similar story against Real and they were only denied an incredible win by a late, late leveller.
They severely got off the hook in two games with Celts. Had Madrid and the Red Bull boys won their matches as the bookies predicted, last night would have been a straight square go for third spot and a Europa League place after Christmas.
No one around Parkhead would have complained much about that scenario. But fair play to swinging Shakhtar for ripping up the song sheet and going freestyle.
Postecoglou can be relied on for a bit of improvisation as well. You would have stuck the house on Maeda getting the nod given Donetsk’s danger on the break.
Not many would have predicted Giakoumakis and Kyogo on the pitch at the same time. It was another bold move from a manager determined to turn it up to 11 even if some folk felt he had to look to limit Shakhtar’s threat down the flanks.
But that would be to assume the Aussie boss gives a XXXX what the opponents hopes are in these parts. Postecoglou only thinks about his own band – and his own brand of football.
There’s been a ton of debate about being able to compete at this level. Celtic have competed. Ask Real’s Carlo Ancelotti or Marco Rose at RB if they’d been made to sweat.
Shakhtar weren’t allowed to stroll last night either. But it wasn’t quite the rock and roll start everyone expected. It was more like one of those Coldplay songs that start quiet and then have the occasional loud bits.
Like when Giakoumakis pounced for the opener. The big Greek’s up to 25 goals in 44 appearances and the hits keep coming. The problem is the figures at the other end of the pitch in the Champions League. It’s now just two clean sheets in 30 games among the big boys.
That’s what happens when you are up against players who can produce the greatest hits out of next to nothing. Classical talents like £50million-plus rated Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is like Beethoven with a ball at his feet. Unlike Danlyo Sikan, who missed the sitter of the century moments later to allow the late Celtic charge.
It was rock and roll – but a painfully familiar tune as the Hoops couldn’t find the goal.
