Celtic have been warned not to think they’ve won a watch because of Champions League opponents Feyenoord’s injury crisis. The Hoops are set to travel to Rotterdam after our Scottish Premiership match against Dundee this Saturday to kick-off their European adventure on Tuesday night.
Ayase Ueda of Japan in action during the international friendly match between Germany and Japan at Volkswagen Arena on September 09, 2023 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
The Dutch side have been apparently suffering from some maladies of their own, with the striking department said to be light of options when the Bhoys visit on Tuesday night. Santiago Gimenez is suspended and Japanese international, Ayase Ueda, is potentially going to miss out thanks to a knock he picked up during his country’s 4-1 victory over Germany.
Feyenoord’s Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez #29 celebrates after scoring during the Dutch Eredivisie premier league football match between Feyenoord and Almere City FC at the Feyenoord Stadion de Kuip in Rotterdam, on August 27, 2023. (Photo by MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
It has left many thinking that Celtic could have the opportunity to face a weakened Eredivisie side, but one former Feyenoord player reckons that anyone of that mindset would be wide of the mark. The Dutch champions former star, Karim El Ahmadi, has suggested that there will be no worries if Arne Slot’s striking options are depleted as the Scots won’t have the ball enough to trouble the Rotterdam side!
Speaking to ESPN, El Ahmadi said: “Against Celtic at home, Feyenoord will have the ball a lot. Celtic just won’t have the ball. If you then put Minteh or Paixão in the striker, they will not get a lot of space.
“At home against Celtic you may have to look for a Stengs as a false striker. You could play without a striker.”
When quizzed on how he thinks Feyenoord will line up, he added: “Paixao on the left, as striker, Minteh on the right and then Stengs behind it.”
Celtic might have much more of the ball than El Ahmadi but Brendan Rodgers will settle for his team doing their talking on the park, just as we did at Ibrox in our last match.
Paul Gillespie
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