Celtic collect £500k prize money but pay a huge price as Kyogo and Ajeti are injured

Celtic 3 Real Betis 2…

Considering that this was a game where the result didn’t really matter all that much – apart form the half a million Celtic pocket from UEFA, a large crowd turned up and they were well entertained with Celtic doing just enough to deserve to win 3-2.

It was a game where some emotions got the better of some of our players and indeed spectators with Diego Lainez, Real Betis’s number 20 in particular failing to endear himself to the Parkhead crowd. And VAR did not cover itself with glory either.

The bad news was the injuries. It is very easy, of course, to be wise after the event and say that Kyogu shouldn’t have been brought on, but injuries forced him to play and now he may miss a game or two with the look of that League Cup final changing almost by the hour. Jack Ross will not be there after yesterday. What about Kyogu? And Ralston? And there is a lot of football to be played between now and the big day.

The clash of heads involving Bitton and Urhoghide was worrying and took a long time to resolve, but both seemed to recover, It was nice to see Bitton acting as captain, and Urhoghide looks a big strong sort of chap, even though he made a few errors last night. He will learn, I feel. Welsh had a good goal and looked the part throughout, and Scales confirmed the impression that we had already formed namely that he will be good. But another of my old favourites Scott Bain had a shocker, I’m afraid.

Up front, poor Albian Ajeti cannot even seem to buy a goal and was injured into the bargain. Abada had a good game but once again the lovers of Mikey Johnston were frustrated with a great part in the second goal, but an awful error at the death which could have made it 4-2. Euan Henderson scored and I have always felt that he deserves more of a run in the team. Perhaps this may come sooner than we think with the injuries.

Time will tell how serious the injuries are but we face three difficult games next week with Motherwell at home on Sunday (watch out where they park the team bus – it may be in our penalty box! – then a trip to Dingwall (normally a lovely trip to a nice part of the world, but we are talking about 15 December!), and then the League Cup final with all the Hibs players, now that they have got rid of their Manager, trying to impress the new man. It is a daunting schedule, but no reason why we cannot come through it triumphantly!

Last night was at least entertaining, and we did win. It means that we have nine points an end up third in the section. Won three, lost three – not a bad record actually! It was a good way to warm up a midwinter’s evening, and as pleasant as anything was the parade of the ghirls with their League Cup. I heard the odd lecherous remark from the sexually insecure, but mainly the applause was real and a genuine appreciation of good football players who had brought home some silverware.

Home? DId I say? Where is home for Celtic? I think it is Celtic Park, and the ghirls should play their home games at Celtic Park, and nowhere else! That’s what it means to be Celtic…! Ange’s post match interview, Match Highlights and Sandman’s Ratings are shown below…

David Potter

READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Fake Lizzies