“They celebrated as if they were already champions,” Nicholas Kuhn’s jabs at Rangers and also cautions the Germans about Callum McGregor ahead of the Euro 2024 opener.

Celtic’s German winger Nicholas Kuhn has received media attention in his home country because he plays for the Scottish Champions and is teammates with four of Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad that will face the hosts on Friday evening in the Euro 2024 opener, as Germany aims to become only the fourth home country to win the European Championships (Euro 2024) on home soil.

And the £3 million Celtic acquisition from Rapid Vienna in the January transfer window believes he has reached the pinnacle of football by playing for Celtic, as he eagerly anticipates next season and the opportunity to play in the Champions League.

Kuhn is not currently active in his national team, but having played at all levels, he is determined to win international laurels for Germany at the senior level.

The Celtic winger also looked on the dramatic first four months of his Celtic career, which saw him win the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup, and he couldn’t help but make a dig at the Rangers for their post-match celebrations following the 3-3 draw at Ibrox in early April.

Nicholas Kuhn jabs at Rangers

Kuhn told the reporters back home in Germany, as reported by The Herald: “In my first derby against (the)Rangers, I was in the starting eleven. We played away at Ibrox. In the first ten minutes of a game like that, you can hardly breathe. But we quickly took a 2-0 lead. The atmosphere at that moment was indescribable. You had to be there to understand it.

“It ended 3-3 and afterwards they celebrated as if they were already champions. But after that we dominated the league, played great games and got all the points we could. And then there was the derby at Celtic Park,” Kuhn recalled.

“Suddenly you’re playing with 60,000 fans behind you and not 50,000 against you. We scored two goals, (the)Rangers got a red card and we brought the result over the finish line. That was the big step towards the title.

“The Scottish Cup final win was crazy. You can’t really explain what happens in the stadium. When you lift the trophy in front of 50,000 people, those are memories that will last forever,” Kuhn explained.

Reflecting on his move to Celtic from the Austrian club, he said: “When Celtic asked me to move, I did everything I could to make this move happen. It was my chance to win the championship and prove myself at a huge club. I wear the No.10 shirt at the club.

“That is also a statement from me – and of course, there is a lot of pressure on me. Next year I will play in the Champions League for the first time, that was always the goal. Now no one can say that I am lacking something. It may have taken me a little longer, but I have reached the top level.”

Breaking into the German squad will be difficult, but Nicolas Kuhn believes he can accomplish it, and if he can, it will be a positive development for Celtic.

“That’s huge for me. My performance in youth national teams over the years speaks for itself. I’ve also always like wearing the German jersey.

“When we were fighting against relegation at Aue in Bundesliga 2 a few years ago, I said in an interview that my next goal was to play in the Champions League and return to the German team. Well, I hope to fulfil that one big dream next season with Celtic. The goal after that is clear to me…the German national team,” The Celtic winger stated that his ultimate objective is to represent the German national team.

Looking ahead to Germany’s opener against Scotland on Friday evening, Kuhn gave this appraisal on Celtic captain Callum McGregor, highlighting the contribution Scotland’s midfield master may make to a shock result in Munich.

Nicholas Kuhn cautions the Germans about Callum McGregor ahead of the Euro 2024 opener.

“Callum McGregor can hurt the Germans,” Kuhn cautioned his countrymen. “He is a real leader. He is a player who just doesn’t stop running. He doesn’t stop until the final whistle. He also has a strong passing game – and he’s just a great guy too.

“Callum is actually a rather quiet person, but at Celtic, he speaks up in the dressing room when something goes wrong. Then he sometimes intervenes. So he’s the manager’s extended arm.

“Over the years he’s gained a lot of experience here and won over 20 titles with this club. Callum knows how to win big games.”

Kuhn acknowledges that Germany will be strong favourites to win the match and the group, but warns that securing three points in the Euro 2024 opener will be far from easy for his team.

“Germany is definitely the favourite,” he stated. “But anything is possible in a single game. The Scots will fight hard. They also have some very good professionals in their ranks.

“Scott McTominay, for example, plays for Manchester United and there are the four guys I play with at Celtic – Callum, Greg Taylor, Anthony Ralston and James Forrest.

“The way they tackle each other in Scottish football is simply different – things are much rougher here than in Germany,” he said, implying that if it down to a scrap, Scotland will not lose.

Three Celtic players are expected to start the match: Anthony Ralston at right wingback, Callum McGregor in the engine room in the middle of the pitch, and James Forrest on the wing (most likely on the left).

A draw would be ideal for Scotland, and Steve Clarke is likely to deploy a defensive strategy that, if all goes well, will annoy the German side and the home crowd the longer the game goes without an opener for the hosts.

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