Scott Allan has made the claim that Brendan Rodgers’ criticism for Sunday’s defeat was largely directed at our misfiring winger Nicolas Kühn…
The former Celtic midfielder was on Sportscene analysing the match and revealed that he has a feeling Kühn was front and centre of the fierce scrutiny Rodgers put his team under in the aftermath of that defeat.
Nicolas Kuhn has gone severely off the boil
There’s no denying that Nicolas has gone severely off the boil in the past couple of months, probably directly after the club exited the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, which is a worry to say the least.
His performances have ranged from the weak to the downright disinterested in recent times, and if there is any inclination that it’s because we are no longer competing in Europe, Rodgers should not spare the rod on this occasion.
Meanwhile, Allan was speaking about the criticism Rodgers levelled at his team in the post-match tirade and reckons a rump of it is aimed at the hapless German attacker.
‘He’s done it for the benefit of the group in terms of the games coming up”
“I think he’s (Rodgers) done it for the benefit of the group in terms of the games coming up and going into next season,” the former Celt said. “I think he is trying to put the scaries on them a little bit. But in terms of individuals, I think (Nicolas) Kühn could be in for a bit of criticism from Brendan Rodgers.
The ex-Hibs star also claimed that opposing teams have learned enough about Kühn now to counteract his threat and the player is suffering as a result. “I think he is wanting more (from him,” he added on Sportscene. “Opposition players are starting to work him out a little bit and he hasn’t had the same effect in the side. He was (on fire) at the start of the season but he’s come off the boil. But I think in general, he wants the standards from the whole team to be better.”
In fairness to Kühn, the whole Celtic team were absolutely dire on Sunday
In fairness to Kühn, the whole team were absolutely dire on Sunday afternoon at McDairmid Park but that is also no reason to take it easier on him. He looks a pale imitation of the player who destroyed RB Leipzig and gave Bayern Munich a torrid time in the Champions League this term, with very fleeting moments in games since mid-February.
It will have to stop with key matches coming thick and fast in the next few weeks, otherwise Rodgers will have no choice but to give Yang his starting spot. The South Korean looked a lot more alert and sharp than his teammate and made us look more dynamic when he entered the fray on Sunday.
It remains to be seen though what Brendan Rodgers will be thinking when it comes to Kühn, but that display was arguably the worst one yet and no wonder Sky Sports’ bluenose pundit felt safe enough to make a quip about his recent performances.
James Forrest could come into the side against Kilmarnock
Brendan might opt to bring evergreen winger James Forrest into the reckoning for the right wing role in the title run, just like he did to great effect last season,
Things must change… and fast!
Paul Gillespie
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