Celtic Manager Expresses Pride and Optimism Despite Champions League Exit

Despite Celtic’s elimination from the Women’s Champions League after only four matches and without securing any points, manager Elena Sadiku expressed her enthusiasm, stating she is “excited for what we have in front of us.” The team managed to score only a single goal across these initial four games. The Scottish club, having suffered a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, can no longer advance in Group B, despite having two remaining fixtures. Chelsea, the Women’s Super League (WSL) team currently in strong form, has secured its place in the quarter-finals with two matches still to play in a group that has proven to be uneven. Real Madrid requires only one point to also qualify for the last eight. Celtic aims to secure its first point of the competition during their away match against Twente on 17 December. Nevertheless, Sadiku noted her encouragement regarding her players’ ability to contend with Chelsea’s formidable squad more effectively than some Women’s Super League teams have managed throughout the current season. Sadiku commented, “It says a lot about the team I have. We have quality players and the players are learning that as a team we can compete with Chelsea and Real Madrid,” adding, “I have seen them hurt other teams more than they have hurt us.” She further observed, “You can see how good they have been against top players. There are star players in every position for them.” Celtic made history by becoming the first Scottish team to reach the Women’s Champions League group stage since its inception in the 2020-21 season, achieving this by defeating Vorskla 3-0 on aggregate. However, their campaign began with a 2-0 loss to Twente in their Group B opening match, followed by a significant 4-0 defeat against Real Madrid. Subsequently, Sonia Bompastor’s team secured a 2-1 victory at Celtic Park last week. The return fixture in London on Wednesday marked Bompastor’s 11th consecutive win in 11 matches, clearly highlighting the disparity in team quality. Celtic managed to retain possession for only 27.7% of the game. They registered merely two touches inside Chelsea’s penalty area, compared to their opponents’ 57, and had no corner kicks against the Blues’ 15. Furthermore, Celtic attempted three shots while the WSL side had 25. Sadiku further stated, “We are learning and growing. We are growing in confidence.” She acknowledged, “There are many things we can also improve. This experience is going to be a great one for us in the future.” Reflecting on their journey, she added, “When we sit down and go through what we’ve achieved and done, I feel proud – but also have hunger to win the league again, be more successful and play in the Champions League again.” Concluding, Sadiku expressed, “I’m excited for what we have in front of us. This is the start of something new. We want Celtic to be a team people know about in women’s football.” She also emphasized, “The players also need to take with them that if they can perform like this, they can be brave and confident.”