Chris Sutton has questioned Celtic summer transfer business and reckons that the decisions that have been taken contributed to the shock League Cup exit against Kilmarnock yesterday afternoon.
Broadcasting on the BBC’s 606 Football Phone-in, the former Celtic questioned the sale of Jota and especially Carl Starfelt without bringing in adequate replacements.
Carl Starfelt of Celtic embraces teammate Cameron Carter-Vickers after the team’s victory in the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between theRangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
And the prospect of playing a new signing alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers is one thing but after he picked up a hamstring injury in the first half at Pittodrie last weekend and to be replaced by Stephen Welsh – who then got injured in training on Friday and is now out for the rest of this year – Brendan Rodgers was left with a choice of three central defenders for the League Cup tie at Rugby Park.
20th August 2023; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Liam Scales of Celtic, Gustaf Lagerbielke of Celtic and Maik Nawrocki of Celtic
The Celtic manager decided against playing Liam Scales, the only one with experience of playing at Kilmarnock, to instead start with new signings Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke and that was a risky, especially when you consider the unbelievable levels of consistency achieved by the established partnership of CCV and Starfelt.
“What do Celtic fans think about that defeat? Was it coming? Celtic, have they done enough work quickly in the transfer market? I don’t believe they have, they have lost Jota, have injuries to key players,” Sutton said.
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“Celtic lost Jota who was a key player for them last season and haven’t really replaced him. That centre-back partnership, I don’t think they lost a domestic game with Carter-Vickers and Starfelt. Carter-Vickers pulled a hamstring last week or has a hamstring injury, and Starfelt was sold to Celta Vigo.
“You are thinking why are you letting a player of that ilk go when there are important games coming up at the start of the season? Out the League Cup, that’s a big blow for Brendan Rodgers. Should they have acted in the recruitment market and brought a bit more quality in? I think they should have done.”
20th August 2023; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the Celtic fans after the defeat
It’s hard to argue with the former Celtic striker on this one.
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