Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou says the pandemic has taught him a lot about football's role in society as he welcomed fans back to Parkhead.
The Aussie boss worked through the coronavirus outbreak as it peaked in Japan and was forced to isolate after arriving in Scotland to take the Celtic job.
We're not quite at full normality in the Scotland yet - Celtic Park is still operating at 50% capacity and games across the country are being thrown into doubt by Covid cases - but we're closer than we have been since the pandemic started last March.
Postecoglou, speaking to Sporting News Australia, welcomed some fans back for the draw with Midtjylland and will do so again when Dundee come to town on Sunday.
And he knows that the chance to go back and watch football in the stadium will mean a lot to the returning fans.
"It's been challenging and different but you've always got to keep a perspective," he said.
"There's people whose lives have been affected permanently through this 18-month period.
"In football, we've always got to make sure our own importance doesn't exceed what happens in the general community.
"I think what it has shown is football is a great connector with a community.
"People who have seen their football clubs have an opportunity to break out of that difficult cycle we're in.
"Just having fans back in the stadiums, getting them involved in their football clubs again.
"It just goes to show you, that's where football's place in society is.
"It's not above everything else but it certainly provides a real connection with its communities to give them light when times are tough.
"Football has also realised without fans there's an emptiness to what happens there."
