"We want to win the game, we want to get through" Adam Idah

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Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic and Bayern München at Celtic Park on February 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: The manager mentioned after the game that there will be times in the Champions League games where you have to suffer a bit without the ball. The progress you’ve made as a team is that you can go through those periods and come out stronger and fight back and get back in the game. Does it feel like that? Does it feel different? You mentioned Dortmund, does it feel different to that now that the team has grown?

Adam Idah: “Yes, 100 per cent. From the Atalanta game, I think that was probably the first game we’ve had where we did have to sit back and be compact and not have as much as the ball. We took a lot from that game, understanding and realising that you won’t have a lot of the ball in these European games. It’s another side of the game that we worked on and we’ve been doing really well and just sticking with that now. Like I said, it’s not switching off from that and just being together as a team.”

The corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on November 26, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Q: I guess everyone will want to play a part, being involved in the Allianz Arena, it will be no different for yourself?

Adam Idah: “Yes, obviously it’s an unbelievable stadium and it’ll be a fantastic night. Of course, everyone wants to play but unfortunately that’s probably not going to be the case. At the end of the day, it’s about the team. I think whether you play or you don’t, everyone wants to play their part. We want to win the game, we want to get through to the next phase and that’s our biggest aim at the moment.”

Adam Idah scores Celtic’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025 (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Q: You scored twice in the last away game at Villa. If you did get the nod, would you back yourself to deliver again?

Adam Idah: “Yes, I’m always confident when I’m playing. I don’t really care what team I’m playing. I always want to score a goal and that’s probably why I was a bit frustrated at the last game. I didn’t really have many opportunities and hopefully I can put that right in the next game.”

Adam Idah scores Celtic’s second goal past Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Q: How would you assess the tie as it stands?

Adam Idah: “It’s been really good. I think obviously we were probably the underdogs going into the game and I’m sure there was a lot of talk that we were probably going to get battered and whatnot and that wasn’t the case. We put up a good test and we’re still in the tie. Daizen had a great goal at the end of the game and keeps us in it so it’s all to play for on Tuesday.”

Q: Do you feel that it’s one of the biggest games of your career, Adam?

Adam Idah: “Yes, it’ll be up there. It’s one of the biggest stages in world football. It’s a great opportunity for every single one of us to go out and improve ourselves. It’s the biggest stage, everyone’s watching so I’ll be up there with one of the biggest games.”