The postponed fixtures and Champions League exit mean that Celtic are under a lot of pressure just now, so a comfortable win over Motherwell is the minimum requirement today.
Stephen Robinson’s men are in a tough spot themselves – bottom of the league, they’ve just lost to their biggest rivals and they’ve lost their best player in David Turnbull.
Despite that, a resounding Europa League victory over Glentoran on Thursday night should give them some confidence, so this isn’t a game that Celtic can approach in a complacent manner.
It was always going to be interesting to see how Lenny approached the game today – Would Turnbull get to play a part? and would he decide to double down on his decision to play with Ryan Christie as a number 9?
The answers to those questions appear to be possibly for Turnbull, and absolutely yes for Christie as a striker:
Our team for #CELMOT 📋
🟢⚪️ 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒐𝒑𝒔! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/FIG9bqYNDq
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 30, 2020
This is the kind of stubbornness that can cost you a job if it doesn’t pay off, and plenty of the fans are bewildered and annoyed at the decision:
Is he not playing a striker to try and prove a point ?
— Ross (@ross_moran2) August 30, 2020
Obviously. If he is saying in Wed that Klimala and Ajeti are nit match fit, then they won’t be match fit for the next game having played 12 minutes of match time.
He’s doubling down on his tactical mistake and trying to fob it off as a slant on Klimalas fitness.
— Keith Robertson (@Krobertson5808) August 30, 2020
He’s done it AGAIN?? What’s he trying to prove??
— Chris (@t90_chris) August 30, 2020
Put himself into a corner. Put a stirker in and the obvious comments would be fit enough today etc
— ScouseTims* (@ScouseTims) August 30, 2020
Celtic support: ok Neil you messed up, now we mean it. Play a striker upfront and not a midfielder.
Lennon: pic.twitter.com/c0AlXN0rsT
— Matthew McGrath (@McGrath130899) August 30, 2020
Seems to be a mistake this is the team sheet from the last game … give us the real one?
— Steven Henderson (@y2sh_84) August 30, 2020
He might get away with it if Celtic win convincingly, but this is just making things so much harder if it goes wrong.
