Celtic have announced the signing of German midfielder Mika Baur from SC Paderborn just minutes after Rangers suffered a painful Europa League elimination at Ibrox.
The timing of the announcement immediately caught the attention of Celtic supporters, with fans loving what appeared to be a perfectly timed social-media post from their club.
Rangers’ European campaign came to an end on Thursday night after Jagiellonia Białystok secured a 3-2 aggregate victory in the Europa League qualifying tie.
And almost immediately after the final whistle, Celtic turned the spotlight towards their latest arrival.
Celtic Announce Mika Baur
Celtic confirmed that Baur had completed his move from Paderborn, with the midfielder pictured signing his contract.
The club accompanied the announcement with a short caption:
“Goodnight, Celts!”
The timing was what made the post particularly eye-catching.
Rangers had just watched their Europa League hopes disappear at Ibrox, while Celtic supporters were suddenly celebrating the arrival of another new player.
The Celtic post quickly attracted plenty of reactions, with fans praising the club’s social-media team for the timing.
One supporter described it as “absolutely superb timing”, while another wrote: “We see what you did there.”
A third fan simply commented: “Timing is everything, admin.”
Although Celtic did not directly reference Rangers in the announcement, the timing certainly added another layer to an already intense rivalry.
Rangers Suffer European Setback
Rangers went into the second leg knowing they had work to do after losing the first match 2-1.
The home side needed a positive result at Ibrox and initially looked capable of turning the tie around.
Lawrence Shankland gave Rangers the perfect start when he converted a penalty in the 19th minute.
The goal levelled the aggregate score and gave the home supporters renewed hope.
However, Jagiellonia remained dangerous and eventually produced the decisive moment.
Nik Prelec headed the visitors in front with 25 minutes remaining, putting Rangers back behind on aggregate.
Rangers pushed for a response but could not find the goal they needed.
The final whistle confirmed a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
Rangers Drop Into Conference League
The result means Rangers will now continue their European campaign in the Conference League play-offs.
They will face Czech club FK Jablonec, with the first leg scheduled for August 20 and the return fixture a week later.
While European football remains available, dropping out of the Europa League will undoubtedly be viewed as a major disappointment.
The result also adds to an increasingly difficult start for Derek McInnes.
McInnes Still Searching for First Win
McInnes was appointed Rangers manager in June, but he is still waiting for his first victory.
Rangers have now gone four matches without a win under their new manager.
Their opening Scottish Premiership fixture ended in a 1-1 draw away to Dundee United.
They subsequently lost 2-1 to Jagiellonia in the first leg before suffering another home defeat against Hibernian.
The latest European disappointment means the pressure is already beginning to build.
Rangers supporters will be hoping their fortunes can change quickly, starting with Sunday’s Scottish League Cup meeting with St Mirren.
Celtic Enjoying the Contrast
Celtic, meanwhile, have enjoyed watching their rivals struggle.
The Hoops currently sit five points ahead of Rangers after the opening two league matches, giving them an early advantage in the Scottish Premiership.
That made Celtic’s announcement even more amusing for supporters.
Rather than waiting until later to announce Baur’s arrival, the club chose to reveal the signing almost immediately after Rangers’ elimination.
Whether it was deliberate or simply a coincidence, Celtic fans certainly enjoyed the timing.
The Glasgow rivalry has always extended beyond what happens on the pitch, and social media has become another battleground between the two sets of supporters.
Another Headache for Rangers
Rangers are also dealing with injury problems.
Youssef Chermiti, who had attracted interest from Galatasaray, suffered an ACL injury during the defeat to Hibernian.
The striker is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, further reducing McInnes’ options.
With Rangers struggling for results and losing an important player, the new manager has plenty to solve.
The European exit only increases the pressure.
Celtic’s New Signing Adds to the Conversation
For Celtic, Baur’s arrival provides another reason for optimism.
The German midfielder arrives from Paderborn and will now look to establish himself at Celtic.
His arrival could strengthen the squad as the club looks to defend its domestic title and compete in Europe.
But on Thursday night, it was arguably the timing of the announcement rather than the signing itself that generated the most attention.
Celtic supporters were quick to celebrate their new arrival while also enjoying the misfortune of their biggest rivals.
A Night Celtic Fans Won’t Forget
Rangers will now have to regroup quickly.
Their European campaign is not over, but their failure to reach the Europa League league phase represents a significant setback.
McInnes needs his first victory, the squad needs confidence and Rangers need to avoid allowing the difficult start to spiral further.
Celtic, meanwhile, can enjoy the moment.
A new signing was announced, their biggest rivals were eliminated from the Europa League and Celtic supporters were given another reason to celebrate.
And the timing?
For those on the green side of Glasgow, it could hardly have been better.
