Celtic were robbed? Jamie Carragher Gives an UNUSUAL Comment on Celtic Penalty Denial Against Bayern and..

Jamie Carragher Changes Mind on Arne Engels Penalty Claim After Celtic’s Narrow Defeat to Bayern Munich

Celtic’s Champions League aspirations suffered a setback on Wednesday night as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the first leg of their playoff clash. The match was marked by controversy, particularly in the second half when Celtic were denied a penalty after a challenge by Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano on Arne Engels.

Initially, it seemed as though the referee, Jesus Gil Manzano, would award the penalty, but after consulting with his VAR team, he waved the Celtic players’ protests away. The decision sparked a heated debate among pundits and fans, with some arguing that Upamecano had clearly stamped on Engels’ foot, while others claimed that the Bayern defender had gotten the ball first.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was among those who initially thought the incident warranted a penalty, but after seeing a conclusive angle, he changed his mind. “You initially thought this was a pen, Jamie,” said Micah Richards, Carragher’s fellow pundit on CBS Sports. “But there is one angle, one conclusive angle where you see that he gets the ball first.”

Carragher responded, “VAR got involved, didn’t they? We thought it was going to be a penalty, more often than not it is when the referee goes to have a look at it. But this time, Upamecano, the decision goes his way.” The incident has sparked a wider debate about the role of VAR in football, with some arguing that the technology is essential for ensuring accuracy and fairness, while others claim that it is often misused and can lead to confusion and controversy.

Despite the controversy surrounding the penalty decision, Celtic can take heart from their performance against Bayern Munich. The German giants are one of the top teams in Europe, and Celtic’s ability to match them for long periods of the match will give them hope for the second leg.

As Arne Engels told BBC Sport, “That’s also a crazy thing here at Celtic Park. You have a 12th man behind you that pushes you forward. You see always, even the big teams like Bayern Munich, also get difficulties. But it’s a positive feeling that we have, and we just need to keep on going. Keep on pushing and don’t be afraid of something. We can match the game of Bayern, and that’s the most important thing.”

Engels’ comments reflect the optimism that pervades the Celtic camp, despite the defeat. The Scottish champions know that they face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in the second leg, but they are determined to give it their all.

As the teams prepare to face off again in the second leg, Celtic will be looking to build on the positives from the first match. They will need to be more clinical in front of goal and tighter at the back if they are to have any hope of progressing to the next round.

Bayern Munich, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their advantage and secure their place in the next round. The German giants have a wealth of experience in European competition, and they will be confident of seeing off Celtic in the second leg.

Despite the odds being against them, Celtic will be determined to give it their all and cause an upset. The second leg promises to be an exciting and intense encounter, with both teams giving it their all in pursuit of victory.