Brendan Rodgers is delighted Celtic fans can travel to Bayern Munich to “drive the team on” in the Champions League after admitting the threat of an away supporters ban had been a “big worry”.
The club had warned supporters not to book travel over fears of being locked out for the second leg in Germany on February 18 after fireworks were let off in their final group match away to Aston Villa.
UEFA had already handed Celtic a suspended ban on selling away tickets after the use of pyros against Borussia Dortmund earlier this season.
But the club successfully argued their case that it should not be triggered, with UEFA instead imposing a fine of £8,340.
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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers hopes a section of fans stop using pyrotechnics after they avoided an away ban for their Champions League game at Bayern Munich
Rodgers said: “That was the big worry for me. I was concerned that they wouldn’t be able to travel because they’re such a massive part of this club.
“The support that we get and the passion that they have for the game, that really drives us and helps us. So to have them there, it’s going to be great and we’ll need them.
“I hope that we can get that support, which the majority of supporters give, which is great. It gives us great strength on the pitch. We can follow the rules and not have any more fines or have anything come against the club.
“The supporters are everything for this club. What they give to the team is what makes it. I’ve said it many times before. The support, whether financially or emotionally, what supporters give to Celtic is what makes Celtic what it is.
“So to have the support there with us always makes a huge difference.
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Jeffrey Schlupp spoke on his deadline day loan move to Celtic from Crystal Palace and his hopes for the season ahead
There is still the threat of future stadium bans if pyros and fireworks are used again, but Rodgers admits there is only so much he can do to convince supporters to stop.
“I’m not sure they’re going to listen to me, if I’m honest, whoever that may be, but let’s hope.
“I think the game now as a whole, and it’s not just a small group of Celtic supporters, you see it throughout football, this element of ultras and all this sort of thing, so it’s not just solely Celtic supporters.
“My only worry is for Celtic and our club, so that we can maintain the status that we have which is an amazing club with an amazing support base.”
Jota is one of three Celtic players added to the Champions League squad to face Bayern
Deadline day signing Jeffrey Schlupp and fellow January arrival Jota have been added to the club’s Champions League squad for the knockout stages.
Brendan Rodgers has also added forward Johnny Kenny to his group after the forward returned from his loan at Shamrock Rovers.
Dropping out are Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Alex Valle who have all left the club for Rennes, Olympiacos and Como respectively.
