Celtic summer signing Luke McCowan has hit back at suggestions that Borussia Dortmund’s 7-1 Champions League victory over the Hoops showed a vast difference in quality between the two clubs.
Despite the heavy defeat at the Westfalenstadion, McCowan was quick to dismiss the idea that Celtic were outclassed by the German side, instead pointing to Dortmund’s ruthlessness on the night.
In response to a reporter’s comment that Dortmund were ‘levels above’ Celtic, McCowan offered a firm correction, not agreeing with the stance taken.
McCowan attributed the loss to Celtic simply having an off night, rather than a significant gap in class between the two clubs.
The Celtic summer signing said: “I probably want to correct you because I don’t think they were a level above. I just think they were ruthless,” McCowan told RecordSport.
“We were not at it. But they’re not a level above Celtic. Celtic are the same as them. We are as big a club as them. We just weren’t at it that night. To watch how the two teams were that night probably showed us the level we need to be at.
“Regardless of playing Dortmund or playing Dundee or anybody in the league, you want to be at that same level week in, week out. The message at Ross County, at St Johnstone, the message every game is to be a Champions League team no matter who you’re playing.”
On the night, Dortmund scored from two penalties and capitalised on Celtic’s mistakes. Nine times out of ten, that scoreline wouldn’t repeat itself.
However, the game should be used as a learning curve for Brendan Rodgers and his players.
