Feyenoord manager Arne Slot provided an interesting assessment of Celtic’s unlucky Champions League campaign while claiming that tomorrow night’s match is meaningless in terms of the positions in the group because Lazio benefited from some huge slices of luck during their matches.
Slot referred to the Lazio keeper scoring a 96th minute equaliser against Atletico Madrid in Rome and their stoppage time smash and grab winner against Celtic who more than deserved a point and probably all three. Me could have added the bizarre disallowed goal by Luis Palma in that same game.
Speaking at Celtic Park this afternoon the Feyenoord boss provided his take on how this group has panned out and in particular how unlucky he feels Celtic have been.
Slot said: “I think there are two things you need to compete. If you don’t have the money, then you need to have a good idea of how you want to play football. You also need a little bit of luck as well.
“Unfortunately, one of the two clubs who are reaching the last 16, had some luck. Not in the way that I mean they are not good. But when you score with your goalkeeper in 96 minutes, and also score here at Celtic Park in 93 minutes to win 2-1, those are the moments that can make the difference when you only play six games.
“When you are Manchester City or Bayern Munich, they maybe doesn’t make a difference because they are 20-per-cent better than every team they play anyway. They don’t depend on luck or bad luck.
“So, for clubs like Celtic and Feyenoord, you need a clear playing style and also little bit of luck. I feel Celtic deserved more than the one point they’ve got until now. And you could call that luck for us. If they would have got more points then tomorrow would have been playing maybe for a Europa League position but also a Champions League for the next round.
“So, I do think if you look at the way Lazio are playing in their season in Italy, then it was an ideal moment for Celtic or us to go to the last 16. But I think I just explained why Lazio reached it and these two clubs didn’t.”
Slot admitted watching Celtic’s defeat at Kilmarnock at the weekend but was honest enough to admit that he was more interested in the Celtic performances against Lazio and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League that the game at Rugby Park.
“I think every top club always reacts after a loss. Celtic is a top club with very good players and they will react to that, especially if the stadium is full which is what I’m expecting.
“I think, yes, I did some things from the game they played last Sunday. But it’s more interesting for me to see how they played here against Atletico and Lazio.
“That was for me was impressive. They didn’t get what they deserved.”
Watch the Feyenoord media conference from Celtic Park HERE.
