As good as the attacking output was against FK Jablonec, the defensive side was less than impressive. Celtic finally have their attacking flair they displayed under Brendan Rodgers back, but with a defence who aren’t capable of conceding less than two goals, you cannot rely on the front men to score three goals per game on a consecutive basis.
It is a far cry from the times of old, where Celtic conceded just 25 league goals in 38 games in 2016-17 – less than a goal per game.
Their defensive reinforcements have dwindled massively over the last six months, too; with Jeremie Frimpong and Kristoffer Ajer departing for the riches of Europe’s top five leagues and Shane Duffy, Diego Laxalt and Jonjoe Kenny returning to their parent clubs, Celtic’s only acquisition in that region is Carl Starfelt.
Yet, following his performance in Czechia, former Celtic hero John Hartson was less than impressed.
The Swede was at fault for one of the goals, with his irresponsible defending leaving Joe Hart exposed, and as the man who was brought in to replace Ajer, Hartson believes he has seen better at Sunday League level. Speaking to BBC Sportscene, the Welshman was left foaming at the mouth with just how bad the ‘Starman’ performed in his first European outing for the club.
It is Sunday League stuff. Celtic won’t win anything defending like that. Starfelt for the second goal – I know he is early at the club. You can’t just dive in last minute and let the player cut inside. When I do punditry I’m not normally overly critical, but I can’t accept that defending.
There are other players Hartson could have ripped into, to be fair. Nir Bitton is the sole cause of Celtic’s poor defensive showings this season – although it is a tragedy that he is even playing in the first place following horrific financial management.