Marco Rose waxed lyrical about Celtic ahead of RB Leipzig 's trip to Parkhead on Tuesday night. But vocal punters would rather he didn't enjoy himself - demanding a return to the type of atmosphere opposition players and managers used to fear.
The Hoops host the Bundesliga team in Glasgow looking for a win that would reignite their Champions League campaign. They started well, performing admirably against Real Madrid despite a 3-0 defeat before battling to a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar in Poland – a game they should have won comfortably considering the amount of chances they created.
But Ange Postecoglou 's team were disappointing in Germany as Leipzig picked up a 3-1 win - no huge shocker as they have only suffered one defeat in their last 15 group stage Champions League games at home. Speaking ahead of the return clash in Glasgow's east end, Rose was complimentary, saying: "It's a great stadium. We're going to have a great crowd with a very knowledgeable crowd that not only supports their team but also appreciates when the opponents play well. It's a lot of fun to play here!" Killing them with kindness is one way to do it.
Rose led RB Salzburg to a double Europa League win against Celtic in 2018/19 and he was spotted leaving the Celtic Park pitch with a green and white scarf and hat on. And while his comments were laudable, it seems many fans would rather it was fear than fun on the opposition's mind.
There was a tangible sense February's 3-0 win over Rangers under the lights was the prototype performance aided by a raucous atmosphere which would leave continental rivals trembling. There's a certain generation of Parkhead punters who remembers high-profile teams being wiped out. Fortress Paradise as it was monikered by those who experienced it.
But there are fears Celtic Park has become a Paradise for day-trippers to experience the fabled atmosphere and share on social media. The diehards are aiming to removed any notion of a pantomime feel.
Real Madrid's Luka Modric was applauded off the park in the group opener and one fan noted: "Should never be the way an opposition team feels. We had an outstanding atmosphere against Madrid. It massively boosts us and intimidates other teams at the start of the game. But then the applause for opposition players when we get pumped is a bit weird."
Along similar lines, another supporter agreed: "This isn’t a good thing and anyone applauding oppositions players should be hounded out the stadium."
'Ashamed' was the word of the day as one punished quipped: "I am ashamed of all of you who made it possible for Marco Rose to say he's looking forward to coming to Parkhead," and another simply said: "Ashamed." And straight to the point from another fan who fumed: "Give them hell from the start Celtic."
READ NEXT
