Celtic 1-2 Celta Vigo – Some improvement, but same problems remain
After the high of thumping Hearts on Sunday, Celtic were brought crashing back to earth with a bump last night as we fell to a third successive loss in the Europa League against Celta Vigo at Celtic Park despite going a goal up just after the restart courtesy of a fine Mika Baur finish…
Two quick fire strikes from Javi Rodriguez
Despite having that lead to protect, we collapsed yet again as the La Liga side struck back with two quick fire strikes from Javi Rodriguez to win 2-1, leaving Celtic second bottom of a 36 team league without a solitary point to our name after three matches.
Last night Celtic played quite well in patches, and we saw a definite improvement on the Ferencvaros and Benfica games. However despite showing more organisation and fight than in previous European games, we looked second best to a superior Celta Vigo side on the night.
Celta Vigo technically better than Celtic
If they possessed a decent finisher in the first half especially, then the Spanish side would have been well out of sight. They may be mid table in La Liga, but they are a much better side than us technically, and it showed on several occasions.
Celta carved us open with ease, more so towards the latter stages of the game, especially down the right hand side of the Celtic defence, as our lacking in experience and quality defence was targeted at every opportunity.
Three first pick defenders missing for Celtic
Granted we were missing the quality and experienced trio of Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter Vickers and Auston Trusty in defence, but the fact we have to rely on Dane Murray and Liam Scales is further proof of the club’s neglect on the recruitment front.
We may sit in a decent position domestically, but in Europe we are an absolute shambles this season having now suffered four embarrassing defeats in a row. For a once mighty force in European football the extent of our fall from the elite level is astonishing’.
Benjamin Nygren doesn’t do enough pressing
Yes it was an improvement on previous games, and it can be said that the referee made some dubious calls, but those same old problems that haunt us on the big stage are still clearly evident. Celtic try to press but never quite manage it, Benjamin Nygren in particular never seems to grasp his responsibility in this side of the game, so we are always a man light. Why do the supporters see this but not the coaches?
Blame ultimately lies with Dermot Desmond
“What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual’s desire for self-preservation at the expense of others.”
Those famous words from Dermot Desmond after he chased an elite manager out the door at Celtic Park for daring to dream about Celtic having any sort of European ambition, following our Champions League performance in Munich.
Listen to this rant. Every single word is bang on…
Maybe the happy clappers and those paid fan media critics on social media will be taking a well deserved day or two off while avoiding looking at themselves in the their mirrors…
