Celtic secured a vital Europa League victory against Besiktas, overcoming a deficit in the final 30 minutes to win the match. The win provided a much-needed boost for manager Martin O’Neill, who had faced scrutiny amid a difficult run of form.
Despite being second best for much of the game, Celtic's late substitutions proved decisive. Callum Osmand, entering the match with his first touch, scored the equalizer, while Camilo Duran added two goals to secure the win. "That’s what you want from the subs — to make an impact from the bench," said midfielder Mika Baur. "It says a lot for Camilo to accept the situation of starting on the bench. But to come on and make such an impact, producing in the big moments to score those two goals to win us the game was huge."
Osmand also contributed a goal and an assist, alongside his defensive work. Baur noted, "Ossie [Osmand] as well, he came on with a goal and assist. He won the ball as well and was working hard. I’m really glad for them."
The victory was crucial for O’Neill, who was at risk of becoming the first Celtic manager to oversee five consecutive European defeats. The team had only secured three wins in their previous ten matches across all competitions, leading to widespread criticism.
Baur acknowledged the team's recent struggles but maintained that their internal belief never wavered. "The win was important after some tough weeks," Baur reflected. "But the belief and the way we work together as a team has always been good. There was never any problem with that because we always believed in ourselves. We showed how we can leave our hearts on the field and put in a shift. It was important to get those three points and we deserved it. Hopefully, we can go forward with the confidence from this game."
The atmosphere in the stadium played a significant role in the turnaround. "The fans helped a lot. You could feel the energy," Baur commented. "It was not just us players on the field who deserved the win — it was also everyone around the stadium and they brought the energy as well. It’s an unbelievable feeling as a player to have everyone pushing you and being there for you. It gives you that last percentage of energy you need at the end."
Baur, a summer signing from Paderborn for £4.5 million, has been a consistent performer for Celtic this season. Despite facing significant pressure as a young player in a new environment, the 22-year-old midfielder has adapted well. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t," he said. "But I hope people understand that as a young player it can be tough to be comfortable in a new country, a new culture and new club. I have felt good in my first few months but it is a bit of a rollercoaster. Playing in this unbelievable stadium in front of these fans — you feel the pressure with some of the games we have lost, but I am getting used to it."
Baur recently earned his first senior cap for Germany in September but has since returned to the Under-21 squad. He sees his continued development in European matches as a positive step, hoping to impress the national team selectors. "European matches like Thursday can only help and I have to hope they see. I’m still young but I’ll keep doing my best and we’ll see what happens next time."