Kasper Schmeichel says experience is ‘biggest gift’ for him and Manuel Neuer

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel views the experience of himself and Bayern Munich rival Manuel Neuer as a major advantage as the pair get set to face off again.

Both players were born in 1986 and both recently extended contracts which will take them to the summer of 2026 with no end date set for either.

When it was put to Schmeichel, 38, by a German journalist that the Champions League play-off was a meeting of two “old goalkeepers”, the Denmark international said: “I don’t like that word. I would rather use the word experience.

“I think experience is the biggest gift you can have in this game. If you’re physically still able and you still have 800-900 games under your belt then it’s the biggest advantage you can have.

“It’s probably about 19 years ago since I played against Manuel the first time. I followed his career very, very closely. He’s the most complete goalkeeper I’ve ever seen. No weaknesses.

“If he plays like he did the other night then there’s no limit. I’m certainly not the type of person to set limits.

“Every opportunity is a gift and you’ve got to take them. I’m delighted for him that he’s got that. He had a massive injury and he’s come back from that.

“He’s still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It’s always a pleasure to play against him.”

Schmeichel’s age will have some influence on how he approaches the challenge in the Allianz Arena as Celtic bid to overturn a 2-1 deficit.

Speaking on how his big-game experience influences his approach and advice to team-mates, the former Leicester goalkeeper said: “I think it just can be emphasising the point that these occasions don’t just come around every year.

“When you’re young you think that they just come around every year but they don’t. You just enjoy them.

“It is the accumulation of all the sacrifice and all the hours of work, all the sacrifices your parents have made to drive you to your football. It’s to be in occasions like this, to be in nights like this. So enjoy them.”