After Jamie Carragher said that no Scottish team would ever win the Champions League again, Thierry Henry stepped in to support Scottish football and Celtic’s history in Europe.
The former Liverpool defender said the bold thing before the Champions League final on CBS Sports. He put Scotland, the former Yugoslavia, and Romania in the same group as countries that probably won’t see a club win the famous prize again.
“France are with Scotland, the former Yugoslavia, and Romania,” Carragher said. I’m sure that those three countries will never win the Champions League again.
His broad statement was quickly rebutted by Henry, the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker, who told him to be careful.
Henry answered, “Don’t say anything.” “Don’t say anything.”
People didn’t like what Carragher said at first, even though he seemed to be making a larger point about how strong leagues like the Premier League are compared to others. Next season, there will be six teams in Europe’s top tournament.
Fans will be very angry if you say that Scotland’s football teams have no future at the top level of European football. This is especially true after Celtic’s recent play on the continent.
In 2017, Celtic made it to the round of 16 in the Champions League. This showed that Scottish football is still strong. The game up north might not have as many opportunities as it does in England, but the Hoops proved they can compete with the best teams in Europe.
Their European experience isn’t kept secret in the club’s museum. It’s a real challenge to flippant views like the ones Jamie Carragher recently talked about. Given the huge difference in money between the SPFL and the top leagues, making it to the round of 16 is no small task. But Celtic didn’t just show up; they played too.
Lucky breaks and one-time miracles don’t happen very often. It was the result of structure, confidence, and a squad that’s got quality in every area. From Callum McGregor anchoring the middle to Daizen Maeda’s relentless energy up front, the side Brendan Rodgers has moulded is built to push boundaries, not just domestically but on the European stage as well.
Making it to the knockout rounds should be a goal, not a gift. That’s a good reminder that Scottish football may not have billion-pound TV deals, but it still makes clubs that can compete on the biggest nights. Celtic is still talked about a lot in that way.
Henry, who is usually the more calm commentator, resisted the urge to write off a footballing country. He treated Scotland with more respect than is usually shown in these kinds of arguments.
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