Luke McCowan has opened up on the penalty miss that haunted him after Celtic’s Champions League exit to Kairat Almaty last season, admitting it was one of the toughest moments of his career.
McCowan is in line to play his role as Celtic prepare for another Champions League play-off, this time against Austrian champions LASK, and insists he is ready if another defining moment comes his way.
Last summer’s tie with Kairat could hardly have been more frustrating. Neither side managed to find the net across 180 minutes, sending the contest to penalties in Kazakhstan.
McCowan saw his effort saved, while Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda also failed from the spot as Celtic crashed out and dropped into the Europa League. It was a bitter blow for Brendan Rodgers’ side, particularly with Kairat going on to finish bottom of the Champions League league phase after reaching the competition for the first time.
Looking back, McCowan admits the disappointment stayed with him long after the final whistle. He said (RecordSport):
“That was one of the toughest moments I’ve had. It was a huge deal not just for Celtic, but for my career.
“Coming onto the pitch, I had the chance in the game, then having the chance to score a penalty was a bit disappointing, even though I’d scored one in the Scottish Cup final.
“Hopefully this year we don’t get it to that stage, we try and get the game done in normal time.
“It just needs both performances in both legs. It comes with huge pressure. Getting in the Champions League is never easy. As a club and as a team, we want to be there.”
The midfielder revealed he leaned on his mental coach in the immediate aftermath, acknowledging just how difficult it was to process the defeat.
For a while, McCowan felt like I had let everyone down, and he’s admitted he needed help to move beyond it.
“I work with a mental coach, JJ. I messaged him right away after the penalty, saying, ‘This is so, so hard’, as it was.
“You can be as mentally strong as you want, but if you miss a penalty in a Champions League qualifier, it’s the hardest thing.”
Rather than shy away from the prospect of being in that position again, McCowan says he would have no hesitation in stepping up if called upon.
“If it comes, it comes. If I need to be in that situation again, I know I’m confident enough and technically good enough to go and score and hopefully put it away.”
Celtic know what is at stake over the next two weeks. Qualification for the Champions League league phase would bring a financial boost of around £40 million, but just as importantly it would restore the club’s place among Europe’s elite after last season’s painful failure.
There was no shortage of chances against Kairat to settle the tie before penalties. Celtic failed to take them and paid the price.
Now, under Martin O’Neill, they have another opportunity to put that disappointment behind them. LASK are the final obstacle, with the first leg at Celtic Park on August 19 before the return fixture in Austria six days later.
For McCowan, it is more than another European tie. It is the chance to erase one of the lowest moments of his career.
if we qualify which imo we won’t, we will be on the end of some heavy pumpings. The suits don’t care about the team