“A difficult task but nothing worth achieving is ever easy,” Kasper Schmeichel

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel spoke to the media earlier today at the Allianz Arena in Munich ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off 2nd leg between Bayern Munich and Celtic…

At stake is a place in the last 16 and the Bundesliga side go into the match 2-1 up from the first leg in Glasgow last Wednesday evening.  Here’s everything that was said at Kasper’s media conference…

Q: You’ve got experience of Europe, Kasper. What would it mean to win tomorrow against Bayern Munich in Germany?

Kasper Schmeichel: “I think it would be a massive achievement for sure, if you were able to put Bayern out of the Champions League, that would certainly be up there. It’s going to be difficult, but like you said, I have been a part of teams that have done things against the odds, so why not?”

Q: Just touching on the players, Kasper, what does it take to get a result like this? What has to go right? And what’s the message within the dressing room about making sure you leave everything out there?

Kasper Schmeichel: “You answered your own question – you have to leave everything out there. What has to go right? Pretty much everything. You’re coming up against one of the best teams in the world, but that’s not to say that it’s not just 11v11. We go out there with confidence, with hope. We’re in the tie. We’re not here just to make up room, but we’re here to try and win. We’re here to try and go through. That’s definitely going to be a difficult task, but nothing worth achieving is ever easy.”

Q: You mentioned there about achieving things against the odds. Does that help you in any shape or form when you prepare for this, and can you translate that to the other guys as well, what you’ve been around and what you’ve done?

Kasper Schmeichel: “I don’t know if you can translate it. I think the only thing you can do is to remind people that it’s just a game of football and anything can happen in those 90-plus minutes. The most important thing is just to have belief. We’re a good football team as well, don’t forget that. That’s probably the message that we’re trying to reinforce, is to remember that we’re a really good football team ourselves. Like I said, we’re coming up against one of the best teams in the world, but who knows on the day if we can give anybody a good game. I believe this team is a very good football team as well.”

Q: Kasper, how much do you use your big game experience with Leicester – winning the league, playing in the Champions League, knockouts, World Cups, Euros? How much do you use that to explain to those who have not really played in the Champions League, knockout stages and stadiums like that?

Kasper Schmeichel: “I think it’s just being as calm as can be and just emphasising the point that these occasions don’t just come around every year. I think when you’re young, you think they’re just going to come around every year, but they don’t, so just enjoy them. It is the accumulation of all the sacrifice and all the hours of work, all the sacrifices your parents have made to drive you to your football games. It’s to be on occasions like this, to be on nights like this, so enjoy them. It would be a shame not to.”

Continued on the next page…

Q: Tomorrow is a match between two old goalkeepers. Manuel Neuer has extended his contract to 2026, so he will play with 40 years in goal. What’s the limit for you, for goalkeepers? Is it 41, 42, 43?

Kasper Schmeichel: “I don’t like that word. I would rather use the word experience. I think experience is the biggest gift you can have in this game. If you’re physically still able and you have 800-900 games under your belt, then it’s the biggest advantage you can have. I think it’s probably about 19 years ago since I played against Manuel the first time, and I followed his career very, very closely. He’s probably one of the best to ever play in goal. I’d probably say he’s the most complete goalkeeper I’ve ever seen. No weaknesses, just lots and lots of strengths. If he plays like he did the other night, then there’s no limit.”

“I’m certainly not the type of person to set limits. I look at every opportunity as a gift, and you’ve got to take them. I’m delighted for him. He had a massive injury, and he’s come back from that. He’s still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It’s always a pleasure to play against him.”

Q: There’s been a suggestion that Harry Kane might not play tomorrow, that he didn’t train today, that he missed training. As someone who’s obviously in direct competition with him, is that the kind of thing that would give you a boost, or does it really make no difference at all?

Kasper Schmeichel: “I know Harry from obviously our time together at Leicester, and I’ve played against him so many times that I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t play.”

Q: The Schmeichel family name has a fairly rich history in the Champions League against Bayern Munich. I’m just wondering if you have any memories at all of watching your dad in the final in ’99 against Bayern?

Kasper Schmeichel: “Memories? Probably a lot of it is a bit of a blur. It was an incredible night for him.It’s funny because Bayern have been one of those clubs that my family has followed forever. My grandfather loved Bayern Munich, and through that, we’ve always kind of followed the club, so that night was special to play against Bayern Munich. It was an incredible occasion, and obviously, for our family, it was a very joyful occasion. I think Bayern went on to win it twice after that, and also, I think everyone got out what they needed.”

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