Mika Baur's Incredible Celtic Debut and Champions League Ambitions
Mika Baur walked out at Celtic Park for the first time and felt exactly what he’d imagined from his living room in Germany – only louder, closer, and far more real.
Now he wants more. Much more.
The 22-year-old midfielder is desperate to turn that “incredible” home debut into a ticket to the Champions League group stage by finishing the job against LASK tonight.
From TV dream to Parkhead reality
Baur’s first taste of Celtic life came quietly enough, off the bench at Tannadice in the League Cup after his move from Paderborn. His first night under the lights in Glasgow was anything but quiet.
“It was incredible,” he said of stepping out at Parkhead for the first time in last week’s 3-0 win over LASK. “The atmosphere and energy in the stadium – I knew it before from sitting in front of the TV and now to feel it in real life is incredible, such a nice feeling.
“Playing in the Champions League is a dream for every young kid growing up watching football.”
Celtic carry that three-goal cushion into the second leg of the play-off, a commanding advantage built in Glasgow but still, in Martin O’Neill’s eyes, not enough to relax.
No room for comfort
O’Neill has been insistent: this tie is not done. Baur has bought into that message.
“It’s difficult because we know they are a good team,” he said. “They made a good match in Glasgow, so we know what we have to do.
“We need the same mentality and energy to hopefully win again.”
The warning is clear. Celtic may have one foot in the group stage, but Baur knows one bad night can drag them straight back into a contest they dominated at home. The job now is to show the same intensity, the same aggression, and shut the door on any Austrian comeback.
Settling into Glasgow – and O’Neill’s way
Away from the pitch, Baur is still adjusting to a new country, a new league and a manager whose methods have already left a mark.
“He makes us feel comfortable, his way to manage the team is different to how I know it in Germany, but he’s really, really impressive,” the midfielder said.
That comfort off the pitch is helping him settle on it. New team-mates, a new style, a new city to explore – it is a lot, but Baur is embracing the chaos.
“There’s a lot going on at the moment, but I really enjoy it, to meet new people and play with them, it’s a different style but I really enjoy it and to walk around the city, look for apartments, it’s a nice time at the moment.”
Life in Glasgow is still in its early chapters. Tonight, he has the chance to write himself straight into Celtic’s European story.
The debut was incredible. Reaching the Champions League would be something else entirely.
