Celtic head to Rotterdam next week to kick-off their 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stages campaign. Drawn in Group E with Feyenoord, Lazio and Atletico Madrid, the Hoops have managed to get a group that offers a glimmer of hope that they can reach the knockout rounds of Europe’s elite competition.
All the games are hard at that level, but in all honesty, Feyenoord from Pot 1 was a real coup for the club to get and both Lazio and Atletico Madrid are certainly not Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain. With a slice of luck, the Bhoys could manage to sneak out of the group, but more likely we will be slogging it out with the Dutch Eredivisie champions for that third spot and entry into the Europa League knockout rounds.
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)
It is being reported that ahead of our opening match in Rotterdam that Arne Slot is facing somewhat of an attacking crisis before the visit of Brendan Rodgers and his team. Daily Record have revealed that Slot may well be without Japanese international, Ayase Ueda, as he injured himself in Japan’s 4-1 victory over Germany recently.
Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez (R) reacts during the 27th edition of the Johan Cruijff Scale between Dutch champion Feyenoord and cup winner PSV Eindhoven at Feyenoord’s De Kuip Stadium on August 4, 2023 in Rotterdam. ( (Photo by SEM VAN DER WAL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
The 25-year-old is now considered a serious doubt for the clash with the Scottish Premiership Champions and with first choice striker, Santiago Gimenez, also missing through suspension, it leaves only Calvin Stengs to carry the burden of leading the team if Ueda doesn’t recover in time. It would be a massive blow for Slot who would no doubt have viewed this upcoming match against the Hoops as crucial for his team.
Feyenoord’s new forward Calvin Stengs poses during his presentation at Feyenoord De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, on July 28, 2023, ahead of the 2023-2024 Dutch Eredivisie football league. (Photo by WILLEM VERNES/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, there is other injuries to his defensive departments, as goalkeeper, Justin Bijlow is sidelined with a broken wrist at the minute, whilst Dutch international defender, Lutsharel Geertruida also missed this latest round of international fixtures which means he too could be a major doubt for Group E’s opening games.
Paul Gillespie
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