NafisaCelta Vigo hero Javi Rodriguez has delivered a painful reminder of Celtic’s European humiliation after revealing how the Spanish side’s travelling supporters transformed Parkhead into what felt like their own home stadium during their stunning 2-1 comeback victory.
Just 3,000 Celta Vigo supporters made the journey to Glasgow, yet their noise and backing left a lasting impression on Rodriguez, who scored both goals to condemn Celtic to another miserable European night.
His post-match comments have now raised uncomfortable questions about the atmosphere inside Celtic Park, with the home supporters struggling to make their presence felt as the visitors celebrated a famous victory.
For a club whose home ground has developed a formidable reputation on European nights, the contrast was particularly embarrassing. Celtic had the home advantage, but with empty seats across the stadium and the Green Brigade continuing their boycott, the atmosphere was a far cry from the intimidating environment visiting teams have sometimes encountered at Parkhead.
And Rodriguez’s description of the occasion will only intensify the frustration among Celtic supporters already furious about their team’s performances.
Javi Rodriguez reveals what made Parkhead feel like home
Rodriguez enjoyed a night he will remember for a long time, scoring twice to turn the game around after Celtic had taken the lead through Mika Baur. But while his goals secured the headlines, the defender was equally keen to praise the Celta Vigo supporters who travelled to Scotland.
The Spanish side brought approximately 3,000 fans to Glasgow, their biggest-ever away European following, and Rodriguez credited their backing with helping create an atmosphere that made the occasion feel remarkably familiar.
He said: “I don’t score many goals, so to score two here at this incredible European stadium was amazing for me. Our fans were a big help – they were crazy and were even waiting for us when our bus pulled up. It felt like we were almost at BalaÃdos.
“We appreciate them coming all the way here, even though it’s a bit chilly in Glasgow, and we’re looking forward to the next match with all our fans who couldn’t be here today, so we can give them another three points.
“It was a party in Glasgow for them.”
That final remark will sting for Celtic supporters. Their team was playing at home in front of its own fans, yet it was the visiting supporters who left Rodriguez talking about a party in Glasgow.
His words were not a direct attack on Celtic fans, but they offered a brutally effective description of how Celta Vigo experienced the occasion. Instead of being overwhelmed by the atmosphere of one of Scotland’s most famous football grounds, the Spanish visitors felt sufficiently comfortable to compare the stadium to their own home.
For Celtic, that is an uncomfortable reflection on a night when both the team and the atmosphere failed to deliver the expected advantage.
Just 3,000 Celta fans made their voices heard
The numbers make the contrast even more striking. Celta Vigo travelled with around 3,000 supporters, while Parkhead has a capacity of approximately 60,000. Celtic’s stadium was also reportedly around 12,000 short of full capacity for the match, with the Green Brigade boycott contributing to the subdued surroundings.
Despite being vastly outnumbered on paper, the Spanish supporters made enough noise to leave a strong impression on their players. Rodriguez specifically highlighted their enthusiasm, including the welcome they gave the squad when the team bus arrived.
Meanwhile, Celtic struggled to generate the kind of atmosphere that might have unsettled their opponents or lifted the home players during difficult moments.
A vocal home crowd cannot guarantee victory, and Celtic’s defeat ultimately came down to what happened on the pitch. However, the lack of an intimidating atmosphere made it harder to argue that Celta Vigo had been forced to endure the sort of hostile European night often associated with Parkhead.
The visitors appeared comfortable, recovered after conceding and eventually took control of the contest. Rather than being overwhelmed by the occasion, they left Glasgow celebrating a historic result.
For Celtic supporters, the criticism is particularly painful because the atmosphere at Parkhead has long been regarded as one of the club’s major advantages. Rodriguez’s comments suggest that, on this occasion, Celta Vigo enjoyed the experience rather than fearing it.
Celtic were beaten on the pitch as well
The atmosphere was only part of Celtic’s embarrassment. On the pitch, Rodriguez proved to be the decisive figure, scoring twice as Celta Vigo overturned Baur’s opener to win 2-1.
The Spanish side’s comeback also marked their first victory on Scottish soil in their 55-year European history. It was a landmark result for Celta, made even sweeter by the support that travelled with them.
Rodriguez believed his team deserved the victory, arguing that Celtic had offered little attacking threat during the opening half before taking the lead against the run of play.
He said: “In the first half, Celtic created almost nothing, so for them to score the first goal was quite a blow for us.
“But we managed to recover and continued playing as we did in the first half, and luckily, the goals came.
“I am a defender so I am not used to scoring goals, so to get three in my last two games is unbelievable for me.”
His assessment was another blow for Celtic. The home side had the advantage of its own stadium and supporters, but Celta Vigo recovered from the setback, maintained their approach and found a way to win.
Rodriguez had not scored for 18 months before finding the net in La Liga against Alaves at the weekend. He then followed that goal with a decisive brace against Celtic, turning what had been a difficult period personally into an unforgettable few days.
For Celtic, however, the defeat left them without a point from their opening three Europa League matches, increasing the pressure on the squad and manager Martin O’Neill.
A European night Celtic will want to forget
Rodriguez’s comments have exposed an uncomfortable contrast: Celta Vigo arrived in Glasgow with 3,000 travelling supporters, enjoyed their backing throughout the night and left with a historic victory, while Celtic were unable to make their home advantage count.
The Spanish defender did not explicitly criticise Celtic’s supporters, but his description of Parkhead feeling almost like BalaÃdos has given the home crowd little reason to feel proud of the atmosphere that night.
Celtic’s problems extend beyond the stands, of course. Their defensive lapses, inability to maintain control and failure to respond to Celta Vigo’s comeback were central to the result. But the lack of a powerful home atmosphere made an already disappointing evening feel even worse.
The biggest question now is whether Celtic can restore the connection between the team and supporters before their next European fixture. They need points urgently, and they will need far more convincing performances on the pitch.
After Rodriguez’s revealing comments, one thing is clear: Celta Vigo left Glasgow feeling at home, celebrating a famous win and enjoying the backing of their travelling support. Celtic were left to reflect on a night when they were outplayed on the pitch and failed to make their home stadium feel like an advantage.
Nafisa
