Celtic dropped points for the first time since January as Stuart Kettlewell’s Motherwell held the Scottish Champions to a draw yesterday. Callum McGregor’s first half strike was cancelled out by Kevin Van Veen’s effort with Ange’s team missing a number of good chances to win the game.
Next weekend brings the Scottish Cup Semi Final against theRangers at Hampden with a Celtic victory in that game bringing a treble within touching distance. And despite having over a week to prepare, Ange Postecoglou made full use of the opportunity yesterday afternoon after the match by ordering the first team squad, minus those that started the game to carry out a training session on the Celtic Park pitch.
After players had completed their lap of the pitch, supporters had gone home and Motherwell had done their warm down. Gavin Strachan emerged from the tunnel with a bag of balls. While he set up, Harry Kewell then entered the pitch as it became clear that something was afoot.
The Celtic squad then emerged, minus those that started the game. Subs Oh, Aaron Mooy, David Turnbull and Rocco Vata were all present as it looked as if Ange had planned to make the most of the day in preparation for the Cup Semi next weekend.
A small sided pitch was created at the Celtic end with cones down the right hand side. The players came out in bibs, already seemingly having been allocated teams. Liel Abada was present, he looked fit and lively during the exercise. This will give the manager another option ahead of next week.
Conspicuous by their absence though were the likes of Reo Hatate, Jota and James Forrest. It’s unlikely that James Forrest will be rushed back, indeed he might now be looking at a return after the summer break, but for Celtic supporters everywhere, we’ll be hoping for good news this week on both Hatate and Jota for next weekend. Maybe their absence from yesterday’s post match training session was nothing more than Ange giving them the day off? Let’s hope so.
The drill looked to be based around finishing in tight spaces, something that the team struggled with in the draw earlier that day. Players like James McCarthy, Bosun Lawal and Conor Hazard who weren’t in the team were present which suggests that it was a pre-arranged exercise as the Celts make the most of what could be a season defining week.
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Fair comment on the post match activities, get the bench up to match speed rather than having a week off
great tactic ziggy
Ok it was a draw but it could and should have been a comfortable win missed chances hesitation poor balls I to box allowed motherwell antics of breaking up play by feigning injury even Beaton ignored motherwell players going down still celtic had enough chances for an easy win a few players missed good chances ho missed directed header wide starfelt complete missed then headed one straight at Kelly motherwell packed the defence our crossing was poor hasabanovic had a poor after noon mooy poor O’Riley should be shooting more turbull could have be on with his shooting cause we weren’t getting into wide area now next week we will be playing a semi final be hoping the pitch is of national stadium standard and playing a team that will show more desire than motherwell there fans will demand it that will give celtic the space to play there passing game at celtic Park beale was defensive more like stop celtic from playing and sacrifice there attacking play there fans will demand more attacking football
Vata a better prospect than Abada.
Let Abada and his agent head out of the premises
HailHail