Mika Baur's Celtic Park Dream: From TV Spectator to Champions League Hopeful
Mika Baur walked out at Celtic Park for the first time and felt exactly what he had seen for years on television – only louder, closer, and far more overwhelming.
Now he wants more.
The 22-year-old midfielder, a summer arrival from Paderborn, 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 spectator to Parkhead reality
Baur’s first real taste of Celtic Park came in last week’s 3-0 demolition of the Austrians in the first leg of the Champions League play-off. He had already made a brief outing at Tannadice in the League Cup, but this was different. This was under the lights, with Europe on the line.
“It was incredible,” the German said of his Parkhead bow. “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.”
The scoreline has Celtic in complete control of the tie, Martin O'Neill’s side carrying a 3-0 advantage to Austria. On paper, it looks done. Inside the camp, nobody is daring to think that way.
No room for comfort
O’Neill has been clear: this isn’t over. Baur has taken that message to heart.
“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 obvious. LASK showed enough in Glasgow to suggest they can cause problems if Celtic ease off. Baur, still bedding into a new country and a new club, already sounds like he understands the standards expected.
A new life, a new manager, the same dream
Away from the pitch, the young German is still adjusting to life in Glasgow – the city, the style of play, even the way his manager works.
“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,” Baur said of O’Neill.
“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.”
The off-field chaos – new surroundings, new teammates, a new league – has arrived at the same time as the biggest opportunity of his young career. Beat LASK, and that childhood dream of hearing the Champions League anthem as a player, not a fan in front of the TV, comes sharply into focus.
He has felt Celtic Park in full voice once.
If tonight goes to plan, the next time he hears that roar it could be on one of European football’s grandest nights.
