The Stuttgart return clash is now a dead rubber. Celtic should play a second string side with the infinitely more important fixtures at Ibrox and Pittodrie in mind…
As we go over the events of last night with a fine tooth comb, it just doesn’t get any better, and we just have to hold our hands up and admit we were beaten by a much better, stronger and talented side on the night.
Even more concerningly, we still have the second leg to negotiate next Thursday, but as far as I am concerned, and I’d guess the overwhelming majority of you will agree, is that we are already out of the competition, with there being literally no chance of overcoming such a deficit against a better side than ourselves.
With that in mind it makes perfect sense to play a second string side at the MHP Arena in six days time.
Of course you can never say never, but it’s more likely that theRangers will go the rest of the season without being awarded a spot kick, than Celtic winning by four clear goals in Germany. It’s not a defeatist attitude, it’s just being realistic. Playing a weakened side could backfire and we could receive a thumping, but playing our strongest XI could have the same outcome, so it’s a no brainer in my opinion.
Especially with a tough trip to Ibrox looming the Sunday after VfB Stuttgart, the first of two trips to Govan in a seven day period, with a game at Pittodrie sandwiched in between!
We should be looking to rest the likes of Julian Araujo, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, Tomas Cvancara, Reo Hatate, Sebastian Tounekti, Daizen Maeda, and Benjamin Nygren, and giving the likes of Tony Ralston, Marcelo Sarrachi, Dane Murray, Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan, James Forrest and Junior Adamu some much needed game time with that in mind.
It’s now no more than a dead rubber, and we have much more important issues to worry about domestically. Martin O’Neill has a lot of thinking to do, but treating the trip to Germany as nothing more than a friendly is the most appropriate option.
Bodo Glimt 3-1 Inter Milan
— John Hartson CSC (@John_HartsonCSC) February 19, 2026
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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