Former Celtic defender Moritz Bauer was disappointed by the way his time at the Scottish Premiership giants ended, blaming the covid-19 pandemic for his failure to seal a permanent switch, in conversation with Transfermarkt.
If the 2019/20 season hadn’t been brought to a premature conclusion, the whole world plunged into darkness, confusion and what felt like a relentless series of lockdowns, would Bauer still be a Celtic player?
Given Neil Lennon was forced to deploy Kristoffer Ajer at right-back during much of the following season, it’s not hard to imagine Bauer featuring regularly in green-and-white hoops.
Now plying his trade back in Russia with FC Ufa, the six-time Austria international can’t help wondering what might have been.
Bauer gets ‘goosebumps’ thinking of Celtic home games
“The time at Celtic was very special,” says Bauer, who played 13 games for the Glasgow giants.
“I still get goosebumps today when I think of the home games at Celtic Park. The fans and the atmosphere was incredible, simply world class.
“Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the season had to be ended earlier and that also completely changed the overall situation.”
It must be said Bauer, who would have cost Celtic about £5 million, didn’t set the world alight during his time in Scotland.
He struggled to force his way into Lennon’s first XI due to the form of Jeremie Frimpong with former Celtic right-back Mark Wilson suggesting Bauer lacked the technical ability to thrive as an attacking full-back in a possession-based side (Scottish Sun).
Antony Ralston is Celtic’s first-choice right-back these days, the newly capped Scotland international going from forgotten man to surprise star under Ange Postecoglou.
The Hoops also snapped up Josip Juranovic for a cool £2.2 million, although the Croatian has been forced to fill in on the opposite flank so far because of Greg Taylor’s injury problems.
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