Nicolas Kuhn on the Celtic tears after reaching Champions League dreamland before winger offers one cautionary note

The winger achieved a career goal in the rout of Slovan Bratislava

Nicolas Kuhn says fulfilling a boyhood Champions League dream was crazy and moved his close ones to tears.

And the winger insists Celtic’s exploits have caught German attention ahead of facing Borussia Dortmund and his old club RB Leipzig. Kuhn ticked a massive career box when playing his part in the storming win over Slovan Bratislava. Despite having had spells at top-table outfits Leipzig, Ajax and Bayern Munich before heading to Glasgow, he had been unable to step onto the big stage until handed the chance by Brendan Rodgers.

It was an incredible occasion and, for those nearest and dearest to him, also emotional. Kuhn explained: “It was unbelievable. The atmosphere was crazy. I think it was one of the best nights I’ve ever experienced in football. It was amazing. Every little boy is dreaming of playing in the Champions League, it was a long journey and finally arriving at such a stadium was unreal. A lot of friends were here and my girlfriend. I think they were crying.

“It was more than I expected. After the anthem it was so loud it was amazing. Everyone said they are special nights and now I can say I have played in a game here.

“When I was on a year loan from Bayern, I said in the second league in Germany, the goal is Champions League and one day, hopefully, national team. I was 2020/21, that was my goal and I didn’t care what other people said.

“It’s what I believe I can achieve and that was my feeling. It was the goal for a long time, so yeah, the first 20 minutes was just a little bit overwhelmed from the crowd and everything, but then it was fine.”

Kuhn’s blistering performance helped the hosts chalk up a record scoreline in the competition for the club. The standings at the conclusion of matchday one have Rodgers’ side sat in the second spot just behind Bayern.

It’s Dortmund on Tuesday week and there will also be a meeting with another of his former employers Leizpig next month on matchday four. Celtic’s opening display has been noted by many including those in his homeland. Kuhn said: “I think everyone will see what we did, so I’m just happy that we get also some German teams. A lot of people want to come to the Dortmund game.

“I’m looking forward also to one of my old clubs, we just want to keep it going and take it into the next game. It’s just the first game. Of course it was an important start, but for us, but the focus now is on Sunday, so after that we’re going to see what’s coming.”

Kuhn’s displays will surely also be eyed by German national bosses and, with the second part of that dream in mind, he added: “I played all the youth national teams, I know the structures there. I just want to show myself, I know that I’m able to play there. So, hopefully, in the future I will. I’m going to check my phone sometimes, but if there’s no call, I will stay here. Now it’s the focus, first of all, on Sunday.”

Kuhn says Rodgers’ one-game-at-a-time mantra courses through the squad with Celtic determined to keep standards high against the Championship leaders. He said: “You have to show respect for every opponent, we are going to focus on our game.

“We have a really strong squad, we’re just going to keep going with what we’re doing right now and, hopefully, there’s more to come. I think it doesn’t matter who we play. You have to give respect to every team. It’s a different cup now, so we have to be 100 per cent. We can’t give any less.

“It was also the first half year I’ve been here, it was looking from game to game. We just all follow him [Rodgers] because I think he knows how to win the titles and he knows what we have to do to achieve big things. If we just talk about Wednesday, we’re not going to win the next games.

“If we just talk about the Champions League, we’re not going to win the Cup. That’s what he [Rodgers] is telling us, so we’re just going to keep pushing.”

Kuhn is ready to go again, despite his shift against Slovan Bratislava. Rodgers praised Daizen Maeda’s boundless energy and the German also put the work in. Kuhn said: “He [Maeda] is doing an amazing job and I think everyone has to be defensively good. He’s one of the good examples here.

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“I had it before. I just was not 100 per cent fit when I came in. Now I’m in a good place. The staff, the team, have helped me a lot. So, now I’m just feeling fit and I can show what I’m able to.

“It’s great to get the assessment and everything like that, but you have to do everything, you have to work for the team as well. It’s part of the game. I think it’s not possible that people just stay up front.

“You have to help the team, also defensively. That’s normal and the goals are coming as well, it’s just nice. We have five different goalscorers, so I’m just happy for everyone.”

Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn was promoting Premier Sport’s live and exclusive coverage of Celtic v Falkirk on Sunday afternoon. Premier Sports is available to stream from premiersports.com or via your TV provider on Sky, Virgin TV and Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.

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