Celtic’s 5-1 defeat to Ajax in the Como Cup may have been a pre-season fixture, but this tale of two halves certainly delivered some hard truths — with an encouraging start and an alarming finish against a technically impressive Ajax side…
The Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium ahead of the Como Cup match between Ajax and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 24, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
While the scoreline certainly stung, it was the second-half collapse, not just the result, that’s left many fans questioning the squad’s depth and readiness ahead of the new season. But to paint the entire performance as a disaster would be simplistic and, frankly, unfair.
Celtic began the match with purpose and intensity, pressing high, forcing errors, and carving out chances. The opening 45 minutes featured some lovely slick interplay, brave forward play, and real composure in spells. In short it was an enjoyable watch as both teams played their part.
Rodgers’ system showed signs of promise
Rodgers’ system showed signs of promise — and we deservedly equalised with a sharp counter-attacking goal. In truth, we should have gone in at the break in front and we forced Ajax into tactical changes in that first half, particularly in their press, as we played through them with genuine patience and class. That certainly shouldn’t be forgotten amid the frustration that followed.
Unfortunately, the second half told a different story entirely. Whether down to heavy legs from a demanding pre-season schedule, or simply the quality of Ajax’s rotations, and substitutions, Celtic’s shape worryingly disintegrated.
That second 45 was disappointing, exposing concerns about depth, composure, and game management against top-level opposition. Defensively, gaps opened up, the midfield lost its ability to compete, substitutes couldn’t stem the tide – indeed they appeared to weaken us further – and Ajax punished the lapses in intensity with four unanswered goals.
The Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium ahead of the Como Cup match between Ajax and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 24, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
It was without doubt a sobering collapse
It was without doubt a sobering collapse — especially for those of us who viewed this match as an ideal Champions League dress rehearsal.
The result also reignited fan frustrations around recruitment. With competitive European fixtures looming, key areas still feel understrength in terms of both depth and quality, there also remains an imbalance in the squad when it comes to creative types outside the first XI.
To their credit, Rodgers’ side have shown clear signs of progress elsewhere this summer. A 2-0 win over Sporting and an emphatic 4-0 victory against Newcastle showed a Celtic team that can dominate when intensity and execution align.
Viewed in isolation, the second half in Como was a poor 45 minutes but certainly not a defining statement on the pre-season as a whole.
There’s no denying that the second-half collapse was concerning
Celtic FC coach Brendan Rodgers looks on before the Como Cup match between Ajax and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 24, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
There’s no denying that the second-half collapse was concerning — not just for the scoreline, but for what it revealed about our current vulnerabilities. The lack of impact from the bench, the defensive frailties under pressure, and the evident need for more quality in key areas are all issues that can’t be ignored, especially with Champions League qualifiers on the horizon.
But equally, it’s important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. The first-half display was among the best Celtic have produced this pre-season — intelligent, composed, and brave in possession against a top-class opponent. Add that to impressive results against Newcastle and Sporting Lisbon, and it’s clear there is a foundation being built.
This was a setback, yes but is certainly not a signal of crisis. However, it’s also a reminder that the margins at elite level are slim — and if we want to compete consistently, both at home and in Europe, the club must act decisively to strengthen this squad for the manager over the coming days and weeks.
Yes, it’s still July, so no, it’s certainly not time to panic. But Celtic’s collapse after a strong opening half was also a wee bit too familiar to ignore. The positives — energy, structure, and attacking ambition — offered some solace. But consistency and depth remain alarmingly key concerns.
Raul Moro of Ajax competes for the ball with Anthony Ralston of Celtic FC during the Como Cup match between Ajax and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 24, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
If the first half in Como showed us what Celtic can be, the second half showed why we’re not there yet.
Niall J
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Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…
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Bhoys, let’s face the truth here, we are a million miles away from where we want our club to be. Year after year, we are faced with the same sh*t show from the grey brigade. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail is an age old mantra, but sadly, it is the only thing that we are world class in. Put a decent team out on the park, that can compete in Europe & our bread & butter in Scotland will automatically be taken care of. Well fed up @ this stage, of us turning up to a gun fight, armed with a knife, or with a square peg in the round hole. A blind man can see the money that can be picked up in Europe now, staggering sums of money, so let’s do everything we can, to avail of our share. Why oh why, are we sitting on such cash reserves, when the team are so sadly lacking on the pitch. Look through the past winners in any competition, domestically or European, you won’t ever stumble across bank balance fc any where among the roll of honour. There have been any amount of epic qualifying failures over the years, all with the same common denominator, the inability & inaction of the grey brigade.we have been schooled way to often in Europe, by teams operating on a way smaller budget than ours. No escaping the fact, that if we we win the league this year, we are still faced with 3 qualifying rounds for a game with the big boys in the champions league next season all because the grey brigade have sat back, more than happy, as our co efficient has crashed through the floor.Any & every success of ours, has been achieved in spite of that shower, not because of, sickening as it is, doesn’t have to be that way though, unfortunately , don’t know how it can be changed, in the modern day of season ticket sales, where they have our money upfront, way before a ball is even kicked. This board of ours, seems to have all been there since Christ was a child, & that, is a sad sad indication of just how much change, with some modern joined up thinking, is required , to map out the future of this mighty club. We have to change from the bank of Celtic, back
to the football club that we all used to know & love & live for.
For me we shouldn’t get carried away with this result which was a disappointment but at same time we beat 2 top European sides Newcastle 4-0 and Sporting Lisbon 2-0 in last week or so. Exactly 4 years ago in Ange’s last pre-season warm up we lost 6-2 to West Ham at home, having also lost to Preston and drawn with Bristol City. Very quickly Ange got things organised with just a couple more additions and then held on in the league and cup battles and bolstered things in window to power on to win the double and then treble next year
Yesterday we were 1-1 at half time and also hit the bar twice and on another day we are 3-1 up at half time. We took off KT who looked good and Murray who’d done OK. On came CCV who looked slow and stiff and needing game time and Inamura (who did fine) but all game down our right side Ajax had us beaten and this got worse in 2nd half where CCV and Scales were poor at marking and clearing the box and getting to the rebound that led to the 2nd goal and none of the midfielders were tracking back to pressure the players who scored goals 4 and 5 after poor clearances out the box. AJ should be back probably tomorrow which should firm things up down our right side and CCV will be better for a half game. For me I’d pair up Trusty and CCV and keep Scales as the back up (maybe even 4th in line after Murray but hope we add a new CB who is more dominant in box to clear and block and win in air). Nygren and Hatate look very good but McGregor hasn’t yet got going that well nor has Engels or PB although McCowan good. Idah looks a bit rusty but Yang was a good surprise and Maeda will be great. The time for these sorts of “panic” and “everything is terrible and let’s sack the board” would be appropriate if we start poorly in league and fail in the UCL qualifiers and don’t add a few more by the end of August. For me let’s keep calm and support the club and the board and the players as in essence these players (apart from Nygren in and Kuhn out) took us to a double and UCL knock out round and cup runner up which was a good season surely in everyone’s estimation (especially if like me you supported the club for over 50 years and stayed with them in the bad years when we won nothing and ended up often behind Aberdeen and Dundee United and Rangers in the league and losing to them in the cups and won only the odd thing now and again for much of 80s and 90s
‘Promise’ at average age 28? Youth scheme = McGregor (32) Tierney (28) Forrest (34) and Montgomery (23) on loan. The future’s so bright we can’t even see it coming. Looks like the 56 is heading back up Paisley Road West along with ECL dreams.