For Moussa Dembele, a golden chance to bring down mighty Barcelona slipped away on Wednesday night.

The 20-year-old is adamant, however, that he will still be at Celtic when they aim more swings at Europe's giants in next season's Champions League.

With Brendan Rodger's side trailing only to Lionel Messi's exquisitely-taken opener, Dembele had the opportunity to beat Marc Andre ter Stegen with a header from a highly-promising position. Lacking sufficient power and direction, it was saved by Barca's German goalkeeper.

Moussa Dembele applauds the Celtic fans after his side's home defeat by Barcelona

Dembele tussles for possession with Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano

That proved a pivotal moment in a valiant effort by the Parkhead outfit to try and avenge the 7-0 thrashing they suffered in the Nou Camp in September.

When Messi then converted a penalty won by Luis Suarez, the game was up. The point Borussia Monchengladbach earned against Manchester City meant even the door to the Europa League was closed with one match still to play.

Dembele, though, is adamant he and his Celtic colleagues will learn from this experience. And despite intensifying interest from some of England's elite clubs, the French Under-21 striker made clear his intention to have another crack at Europe's premier competition with his current employers.

Asked about the transfer speculation, Dembele said: 'That is what everyone is saying but I haven't said that. For me, I am here until the end of my contract and for many years.

'It is not something I think about. I don't listen to those stories.

'I want to keep playing in the Champions League and keep playing in the Champions League for Celtic first. Because I think I will stay here 100 per cent. I want to keep improving and keep developing as a player.

'Coming to Celtic and playing in the Champions League hasn't just been good for me, it's been good for the whole squad.

'We have a lot of young players and we have picked up a lot of experience against the best teams in the world.

'Hopefully we can come back even stronger next season.'

Lionel Messi (right) scored both goals as Barca secured a 2-0 victory on Wednesday night

Dembele fluffed his one good sight of goal during the Champions League encounter

He was sanguine about the one that got away, insisting he couldn't let the disappointment of his misplaced header stick in his mind. Dembele admitted, however, that having a consistently clinical edge is essential when facing the continent's best.

'I thought we played better than we did in Barcelona,' he reflected. 'We played some good football and created chances, but we couldn't put them away.

'Against a team like Barca, when you don't take your chances, they punish you. That's what happened.

'I had a chance and didn't score. There's not a lot I can say about it. I tried to put the ball back across the keeper but he saved it. I tried to generate power on the cross and it didn't work.

I want to keep playing in the Champions League and keep playing in the Champions League for Celtic first. Because I think I will stay here 100 per cent. Moussa Dembele speaks about his future at Celtic

'That's the way it is. Sometimes you miss, sometimes you score. You just have to hold your head up and focus on the next challenge.

'We never thought about whether the game was in our grasp or not. We just think about the 90 minutes.

'At times, I felt we were stronger than them but we didn't put our chances away. That's the difference.

'We showed that we have improved from the last meeting with them and I think we deserved more from the game.

'But when you play Barcelona and you make sloppy mistakes then you pay for it and that's what happened to us. Even so, the guys played an amazing game and deserve a lot of credit.

'The difference in games at this level is about small details. And small details come from experience.

'We don't have a lot of Champions League experience as a team but we are learning all the time.

'We will try to win everything this season and come back better and stronger to this competition next season.'

The forward has been the subject of plenty of transfer speculation so far this season

Messi's goals at Parkhead ensured Celtic's elimination from this year's Champions League

Dembele was backed by Nir Bitton, a second-half substitute, who refused to point a finger at his miss. Instead, he predicted a return to scoring form for the striker when Celtic face Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup Final this weekend, seeking a first trophy of the Rodgers' era.

'I don't believe that Moussa's opportunity was the turning point,' said the Israeli midfielder. 'There were many chances throughout the evening and, in the first half, Craig Gordon's saves kept us in it.

'Sometimes you miss and sometimes you score. Moussa is a top striker and a top goalscorer and he was unlucky.

'No one is blaming him – of course not. You saw Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez miss chances tonight and that's football. I'm sure that he will score against Aberdeen on Sunday for us.'

Celtic round off Group C with a trip to the Etihad Stadium on December 6 for a dead rubber against Pep Guardiola's City.

'I think we were in the most difficult group in the competition,' insisted Bitton. 'Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach meant that even finishing third would be very tough.

Dembele lies on the turf with his head in his hands after missing a sight of goal

'For a club the size of Celtic, we wanted to get to the Europa League at least but now we just need to look forward.

'This was a big experience for all of us. When you're in the Champions League you want to go through but you also want to play against the best teams and the best players – you wait your whole career for these games.

'We showed an improvement in every game and we were unlucky that we didn't go into the last game with the Europa League still an option.