Kris Boyd laughs through his Rangers pain before Celtic potshot gets him booed – what the pundits said

Kris Boyd laughs through his Rangers pain before Celtic potshot gets him booed – what the pundits said

Boyd could only laugh after Lyon’s second goal and at full-time, he turned the eventual defeat on rivals Celtic

Kris Boyd was laughing nervously after Lyon’s second goal against Rangers – but he was still smiling at full-time as he turned their 4-1 defeat into a dig at Celtic.

Rangers were resoundingly beaten against the Ligue 1 side at Ibrox, with Malick Fofana and Alexandre Lacazette each striking twice on their way to a comfortable win. Tom Lawrence had cancelled out Lacazette’s first but there was simply too much firepower on show from the visitors whose forward line of Fofana, Lacazette and Rayan Cherki was too hot to handle.

The pundits had plenty to say on a sobering night with Boyd in particular one of the centres of attention in the Sky Sports studio. He can never resist a Celtic wind up and was quick to compare it to their 7-1 thumping in Dortmund. Elsewhere Ally McCoist spotted a clue the ‘standards’ are in decline at Ibrox. Here’s what 3 pundits had to say.

Kris Boyd

After the second Lyon goal, the Sky studio cut to Boyd and he said with a laugh: “You don’t need to come back to me if you don’t want to!” before describing the second Lyon goal.

At full-time, he went on, giving credit to Hearts before a dig at the Hoops across the city. He added: “Cerny had an opportunity before Lyon scored right at the start to put Rangers up but missed it from inside the six yard box, smashed it over the bar. From that moment on it was all Lyon. The front three absolutely ripped Rangers apart this evening.

“To be honest, it was four, but it could have been a lot more. Lyon were outstanding. But this week? You have to give Hearts credit, the team from the capital the only Scottish team to go and get a victory in Europe. Fantastic performance. But it’s hard to believe Rangers have lost 4-1 tonight, and it’s not even the worst result for a Scottish club in Europe this week.” That lost comment was met with a chorus of groans and boos by the rest of the studio who knew it was coming.

Ally McCoist

Speaking during the second half in TNT’s coverage, McCoist reckons the standards have dropped dramatically from the days of Gio van Bronckhorst when Rangers could mix it with some of Europe’s best. He said on commentary: “There’s been a decline in the standards, definitely. Three or four years ago, they could compete with these teams. So you have to ask what’s gone wrong?”

And at full-time, he said: “Rangers have been beaten comfortably by brilliance. And those two (Lacazette and Fofana) were part of a trio that, I’ve got to be honest, I really enjoyed watching. Fofana on the left, Lacazette through the middle, Cherki on the right. They had an absolutely beautiful balance. Rangers could not handle it, simple as.”

Derek McInnes

And Kilmarnock boss McInnes reckons it was a strong start for Rangers, before it all went off the rails. He said: “Rangers got off to a really good start. Cerny missed a stick-on at the back post he’ll be disappointed with. But once the front three had an influence, Rangers found it difficult. The fourth goal knocks any kind of encouragement out of the Rangers lads. Then it’s just about seeing out the minutes. Clement made a few changes, maybe with Sunday in mind, because he knew it was beyond them. The quality was the real difference in the forward areas.”

Photo: Lyon fans taunt Ibrox with iconic Celtic celebration

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 03: Fans of Olympique Lyonnais show their support during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Rangers FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Ibrox Stadium on October 03, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Lyon were 4-1 winners in their UEFA Europa League clash against Rangers this evening. The Ligue 1 side arrived in Glasgow on the back of a rough run, which included defeat to Marseille, but made light work of Philippe Clement’s side.

The Lyon supporters that made the trip from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes mocked the Rangers supporters by doing the Huddle, the iconic Celtic celebration as the clock ran down in the game.

It is a crushing home defeat for Rangers, who spent the week revelling in Celtic’s poor display in Europe. The Lyon fans will have enjoyed deploying the Huddle to rub it in against those that were still in the ground.

Elsewhere, Celtic will need to be at their best to prove they are not suffering from a European hangover when they make the trip to Dingwall to face Ross County on Sunday.

Scott Brown details Rangers transfer talks before Celtic move

Scott Brown joined Celtic after transfer talks with Rangers (Image: SNS)

Scott Brown has detailed his decision to sign for Celtic after transfer talks with Rangers.

Both Glasgow clubs were interested in signing the midfielder from Hibernian back in 2007.

Brown had made his mark in Scottish football in the Hibs side and was attracting significant transfer interest from both Celtic and Rangers.

The now Ayr United boss even held talks with both Rangers and Celtic before committing his future to the Parkhead club where he would become a legend after a trophy-laden spell.

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Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Brown revealed discussions with Walter Smith, Ally McCoist and David Murray in a Glasgow car park over a possible Ibrox switch.

However, that was blown out of the water as Brown was flown down to London to speak with Dermot Desmond about instead signing for Celtic with Tommy Burns also playing a role in Brown’s decision-making.

Asked about the decision between Rangers and Celtic, Brown smirked:  “I think I chose alright, eh?”

He continued: “I went and met Walter, Ally and David Murray in a car park in Sighthill in Glasgow underneath flats.

“We sat in a Land Rover and blethered away to them.

“Then, Celtic phoned to ask if I could speak to them and Hibs accepted the bid.

“They flew me down to London to Dermot’s place and I was looking going ‘Slightly better than Sighthill, this’.

“I got on really well with Coisty and Walter and being at Scotland with Tam at the time as well.

“It was really good banter but Tommy was texting saying, ‘Wee man, come on, you know you want to come home and come to us, we will make sure you’re alright and build the team around you’.

“I got on really well with Gordon Strachan and the way he wanted to play. He wanted to build the team around myself, Aiden and all the young players that were there.

“I just felt like it was the right place at the right time to go to a team in the Champions League that was competing all the time – and to be fair, we done well in the Champions League in the first couple of seasons.”

Celtic’s Champions League foe makes shock announcement

Two weeks after being hammered by Celtic in the Champions League Vladimir Weiss has decided to retire from football.

The former Manchester City winger wore the armband that night, got booked and substituted but has now decided to hang up his boots leaving his club high and dry two matches into a Champions League campaign.

After leading his side through four rounds of qualifiers it was a proud moment for Weiss as he faced Celtic with his Dad in the dug-out as Slovan set off in their first ever Champions League fixture.

Now after a 5-1 defeat from Celtic and 4-0 home loss to Manchester City the club captain has opted out, this afternoon the Manchester Evening News reported:

Former Manchester City youngster Vladimir Weiss has quit football in the wake of Slovan Bratislava’s latest heavy defeat in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s side eased to their first win of the season in the competition as they brushed the Slovakians aside 4-0. Early goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden put City in charge before Erling Haaland’s 42nd goal in 41 appearances in the competition, plus one from substitute James McAtee.

It was Slovan’s second successive Champions League drubbing following their 5-1 thrashing at Celtic, who were hammered 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund this week. And it was seemingly too much to take for veteran Vladimir Weiss, who was taken off by his manager father, also called Vladimir, after 63 minutes.

After two rounds of matches Slovan are one of eight teams yet to take a point as the new look ‘super-league’ gets underway.

Weiss picked up a first half booking for a foul on Arne Engels in the Celtic match with Alistair Johnston yellow carded for a foul on the Slovan captain.

Turning 35 next month he had vital experience to offer to the Slovakian champions but a quarter of the way into what looks like the perfect swansong he has decided that enough is enough

Alistair Johnston Injury Blow

Canada boss Jesse Marsch has left Celtic defender Alistair Johnston out of his latest squad.

While Johnston seemed to have recovered from a previous issue in the last international break in time to feature in Celtic’s 6-0 demolition of St Johnstone, he seems to have suffered a setback following the Hoops’ Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund.

He was subbed off early, and Anthony Ralston replaced the Canadian in Germany.

Marsch confirmed Johnston is nursing and injury, ruling him out of Canada’s upcoming fixture against Panama.

Speaking to SunSport, Marsch said: “Alistair Johnston and midfielder Ismael Kone are both rehabbing injuries. It’s back and ankle injuries for them.”

This news comes as a blow for Celtic ahead of their away trip to Dingwall to face Ross County this Sunday. With Johnston likely to miss the match, Brendan Rodgers will need to adjust his defensive plans. Despite the setback, the Scottish champions should still be well-equipped to handle the challenge, with the squad boasting enough depth to cope in Johnston’s absence.

Anthony Ralston is more than able to step in against Ross County on Sunday.

He’s got previous in Dingwall, scoring a last minute winner while Celtic were down to 10 men under Ange Postecoglou.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor has been prominent in the media blitz surrounding the club during this season’s Champions League group stage.

McGregor is regrouping his team after Celtic were heavily beaten by Borussia Dortmund. His leadership will be very important over the coming days and weeks.

The captain has been in this situation before, having suffered a few Celtic hammerings in the Champions League. More often than not, he’s ensured his team have bounced back.

Despite recent difficulties, McGregor is proud of his fellow players, always talking up their quality.

Now, the Bhoys hero has been featured in a new video on UEFA’s official YouTube channel doing that again.

Callum McGregor shares quickfire thoughts on Celtic teammates

McGregor used the word ‘cat’ to describe summer signing Kasper Schmeichel.

Giving his reasoning, the captain said: “Because he’s unbelievable. He’s a top, top goalkeeper, and just watching him from afar, his reaction speed and the way he comes out and closes the goal. He makes big saves in big moments.”

The description of ‘finisher’ for striker Kyogo Furuhashi speaks for itself. The Celtic forward has netted an impressive 77 goals in 141 appearances for the Bhoys and is expected to significantly add to that total before his time in Scotland is up.

James Forrest received a ‘legend’ designation after playing over 500 matches for Celtic, while Cameron Carter-Vickers was actually given two words: ‘the wall’.

READ MORE:

Nicolas Kuhn and Greg Taylor get praise from their Bhoys captain

Everyone will understand why Nicolas Kuhn was described as ‘rapid’ after watching his electric performances on the wing which have resulted in five goals and eight assists this season.

McGregor lauded Greg Taylor with a ‘Mr Consistent’ label and stated he absolutely loves playing with his left-back.

Liam Scales was described with ‘composure’ because the captain feels absolutely nothing phases him in any aspect of his life.

Finally, Reo Hatate was given the title of ‘maverick’ with McGregor declaring: “When he’s on, he’s unplayable.”

It was fun to watch, and McGregor always speaks well about Celtic. It’s clear that the captain is buzzing with the club’s talent.

Now it’s about finding the strength to pick up six or seven more points in the Champions League to qualify for that top-24 playoff position.

North Curve Celtic Announce the Return of The Celtic End

Celtic Women has made history in the Champions League, and they’ll have the iconic backing of the Green Brigade and Bhoys Celtic, as the return of The Celtic End has been confirmed for their opening group stage clash against FC Twente.

Soccer Football – Champions League – Celtic v Slovan Bratislava – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – September 18, 2024 Celtic fans react in the stands Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

This marks a significant moment not only for Celtic Women but for Scottish football, as they become the first Scottish side ever to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stages. Their historic journey kicks off with a group stage fixture against Twente at New Douglas Park in Hamilton.

The return of The Celtic End promises to add even more excitement to an already momentous occasion. The initiative, spearheaded by the club’s ultras groups, aims to replicate the atmosphere of Borussia Dortmund’s famous Yellow Wall, which some Celtic fans got to witness in the flesh on Tuesday, by turning the traditional Celtic End of Celtic Park into a stand renowned for its visual and vocal support of the team.

Tickets available below:https://t.co/oqHj5eoZev

Select “Supporters’ Groups” for The Celtic End. pic.twitter.com/Enn1lDUkIw

— North Curve Celtic (@NCCeltic) October 3, 2024

This movement has already made waves, with 15,822 fans filling the stands to watch Celtic Women take on Hearts on the dramatic final day of the SWPL season two seasons ago.

However, the presence of The Celtic End at women’s fixtures was in doubt towards the end of last season, after the Green Brigade boycotted games following a dispute about their placement in the Jock Stein Stand. Now, with the group back in full support, the Ghirls will be playing in front of a lively, packed-out stand, with tickets priced at £12 for adults and £6 for under-16s.

Kick-off for the historic match against FC Twente is set for 8 pm next Tuesday, and with The Celtic End back in action, it’s set to be an unforgettable night for Celtic Women as they aim to make even more history on the European stage.

Scott Brown is and always will be a legend at Celtic.

The new Ayr United manager is arguably Celtic’s best captain since the legendary Billy McNeill after he guided the team to a second nine-in-a-row, a Quadruple Treble and an Invincibles Treble.

One of Celtic’s most decorated players, Brown made over 500 appearances for Celtic over a 14-year career that saw him pick up ten league titles, six Scottish Cups and seven League Cups in total.

After hanging up his boots, Scott Brown is now enjoying a fairly successful managerial career as he cuts his teeth at Ayr but here, the Celtic hero shares a meeting he had with Rangers that convinced him to sign for Celtic back in 2007.

Scott Brown’s meeting with Rangers in a car park and how it made him want to join Celtic

Brown told the Let Me Be Frank podcast, “I went and met Walter, Ally, and David Murray in a car park in Sighthill in Glasgow, underneath flats, sat in a Land Rover and blethered away to them.

“Then Celtic obviously phoned to ask if I can speak to them. Hibs had accepted the bid and they flew me to London to Dermot’s [Desmond] place.

“I was looking, going, this is slightly better than Sighthill this.”

Tommy Burns’ role in convincing Scott Brown to snub Rangers for Celtic

The late, great Tommy Burns had his role to play in the signing of Brown as the former Celtic captain shared the messages Tommy sent to him to tempt him to the east end of Glasgow.

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Brown continued, “I got on really well with Coisty and Walter. And being at Scotland with Tam at the time as well.

“So it was really good banter, but Tommy was texting saying, ‘Wee man come home, you know, you want to come home, come to us, we’ll make sure you’re all right, we’ll build the team around you’.

“And I got on really well with Strachan in the way we wanted to play, we wanted to build the team around myself, Aiden [McGeady] and all the young players that were there.

“So I just felt like it was the right place at the right time to go to a club that was in the Champions League that was competing all the time.

“And to be fair, we done well in the Champions League the first couple of seasons.”

Brown enjoyed countless successful European nights at Celtic beating the likes of AC Milan, Villareal and Benfica.

The former Celtic captain also enjoyed some great victories over Rangers during his time at the club with the 5-1 wins at Celtic Park and Ibrox during the Invincibles season being the most memorable of the lot.

Now chasing promotion to the Scottish Premiership with Ayr United, Brown may well see himself in the Celtic dugout soon enough but in the unfamiliar opposition side next season.

Kasper Schmeichel’s ‘midnight’ rule that Celtic can learn from as he urges teammates to NEVER forget Dortmund mauling

The Parkhead no.1 needed a hug from famous dad Peter in the wake of the Borussia bashing and attempted to take some positives

Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel

Kasper Schmeichel allowed himself to hurt until midnight in Germany but he insists Celtic should never forget their Borussia Dortmund drubbing.

And rather than bury the memory of their nightmare seven goal Champions League mauling, the great Dane is actually convinced something GOOD might come of it. Schmeichel attempted to put some kind of positive spin on the shocker, even though he knew it was a difficult task in the immediate aftermath.

The keeper’s old man Peter was on media duties at the Signal Iduna Park the other night and the Manchester United legend hung around in the bowels of the famous ground to give his lad a big hug at the end. He looked like he needed it. The Celtic squad could have formed a queue to get a comforting cuddle from the big fella. The embrace seemed to do the trick though and Schmeichel now reckons the Hoops need to keep the Dortmund demolition fresh in their minds – as a lesson on what not to do in the Champions League challenges ahead.

He said: “It’s a case of moving on very fast. The most important thing from a night like that is to learn from it. It can even be a good thing if you do. It’s something to refer to now – remember that night. Remember what happened, because if we are not 100 per cent on it for every single minute, that’s what can happen.

“I’m hoping we can turn it into a positive. That’s our responsibility as the leadership group. That’s life, that’s football. This game has a incredible way of bringing you back down to earth sometimes. But we also have to remember the big picture. We have had a good start to the season. This is obviously a lesson we have to learn from.

“Football is an industry where you can have the highest of highs and the lowest of lows but you have to move on very quickly. Throughout my career I’ve always had a rule where I allow myself to feel how I feel until midnight. That’s whether it’s joy from winning or devastation from losing. But after midnight we move on. Now it’s about Ross County on Sunday.”

Elena Sadiku digs out Rangers again as Celtic women boss tells rivals ‘you’re not the better team’

That’s fair enough, but there is no way Tuesday night will be swept under the carpet. Celtic made plenty of positive noises going on, giving supporters belief it wouldn’t be the same old sorry story at this level. Yet what they witnessed was another horror show that was up there among the most grizzly suffered on this stage.

The blame game has been in full swing and no one has avoided the post mortem. Boss Brendan Rodgers copped it for his game plan contributing to a third seven goal hammering in his two spells in charge.

Dortmund played through any attempts at a Celtic press and brutally capitalised on the Hoops constantly conceding possession in their own half. They unravelled at a rate of knots but Schmeichel doesn’t believe Celts need to rip up their approach and overhaul their entire style for Europe.

Brendan Rodgers

He said: “There’s always a debate. That approach has been very successful for us this season. Sometimes you just come up against an opposition where everything goes their way. Dortmund are a good team. We caught them on their best day but they caught us on our worst day.

“They had one of those nights where everything worked for them. We have had plenty of days like that ourselves this season already. That’s football sometimes. The most important thing is now we take our medicine.

“It’s all well and good when you take the praise like we have been doing this season. We also have to take it on the chin after we get a result like this. For me now, the big thing is the response. How do we respond now? It’s all well and good having a good start to the season, but now we have to feel this one because it hurts, but then move on to Sunday.”

Tuesday was a heck of a reality check for the Denmark keeper after a couple of months when everything seemed to be going his way. Schmeichel had yet to concede a goal in the Premiership this term and was part of a side that had won nine games out of nine before Germany.

The no.1 has been lapping it all up and he won’t let Tuesday’s trauma dent his optimism – or Celtic’s chance of getting to the Champions League knockout stages. Schmeichel said: “I always say, nothing in football is easy. If it was easy then everyone would do it.

“You have to earn absolutely everything in this game. No one is going to give you anything. The other night we had the kind of result that we have dished out a few times already this season.

“It was a tough night but it’s been fantastic since I joined the club. The other night was an isolated incident, the kind of freak result that can happen now and again, but it’s definitely not indicative of this season. Remember, this is the first time we’ve lost this season. It won’t damage the belief. We are two games into an eight game campaign in the Champions League – there is a long way to go.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be at the other end of some of them as well. Sometimes it’s like everything the opposition hits goes in. They get the luck or the rub of the green to get a result like that. It’s not one of those results that’s indicative of us as a team. We’ve had a very good start to the season and have to remember that.”

Celtic keeper Schmeichel reveals his ‘midnight rule’

Kasper Schmeichel (Image: Getty)

Kasper Schmeichel hasn’t been troubled in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic so far this season.

In his short Celtic career, the Danish shot-stopper has equalled a 118-year-old shut-out record by keeping six clean sheets on the bounce in the domestic league in Scotland. However, there are levels to this football game, though. Big levels, especially in the European arena.

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic found that out to their cost in the Signal Iduna Park Stadium as they tried to mix it and go toe-to-toe with last season’s beaten Champions League finalists.

The visitors were up against it as early as the seventh minute when Schmeichel upended Jamie Gittens in the box and Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez awarded a penalty and a yellow card to the ex-Falkirk and Leicester goalkeeper. Schmeichel was helpless to prevent Emre Can from firing home the opener, Karim Adeyemi bagging a first-half hat-trick, Serhou Guirassy notching a brace and Felix Nmecha completing the rout on a night of misery.

However, Schmeichel believes that the 7-1 Champions League mauling can be used as a reference point for the rest of the campaign. The No.1 is keen to move on quickly and get the defeat out of his system and he will use all his experience in the game to turn the crushing loss into something positive for the team. Schmeichel reckons that something good might come of it in the future.

He said: “It’s a case of moving on very fast. The most important thing from a night like that is to learn from it. It can even be a good thing if you do. It’s something to refer to now – remember that night. Remember what happened, because if we are not 100 percent on it for every single minute, that’s what can happen.

“I’m hoping we can turn it into a positive. That’s our responsibility as the leadership group.”

Schmeichel revealed he is not one to get too high or too low whatever football throws at him. He has a personal ‘midnight rule’ which he strictly abides by. Whether it is winning the English Premiership title and FA Cup with Leicester City, breaking century-old shut-out records with Celtic, or suffering Champions League hammerings, it’s all the same to Schmeichel. It was all forgotten about by midnight but he admits that Celtic need to learn after being handed another lesson on their travels in Europe.

Now Schmeichel’s focus is solely on Ross County in Dingwall on Sunday Schmeichel said: “That’s life, that’s football. This game has an incredible way of bringing you back down to earth sometimes.

“We also have to remember the big picture. We have had a good start to the season. This is a lesson we have to learn from. Football is an industry where you can have the highest of highs and the lowest of lows but you have to move on very quickly. Dortmund are a good team. We caught them on their best day but they caught us on our worst day. They had one of those nights where everything worked for them. We have had plenty of days like that ourselves this season already.

“That’s football sometimes. The most important thing is now we take our medicine. It’s all well and good when you take the praise like we have been doing this season. We also have to take it on the chin if we get a result like this. For me now, the big thing is the response. How do we respond now? It’s all well and good having a good start to the season, but now we have to feel this one because it hurts, but then move on to Sunday.

“Throughout my career, I’ve always had a rule where I allow myself to feel how I feel until midnight. That’s whether it’s joy from winning or devastation from losing but after midnight we move on.

“Now it’s all about Ross County.”

For the moment, Bergamo and last season’s Europa League winners and Atalanta can wait. One thing is for certain, Rodgers isn’t going to be any more pragmatic when Celtic touches down in Italy in three weeks. The wily, old Schmeichel refused to be drawn into any kind of debate about whether or not the Celtic manager should deploy a different tactical approach next time out in the Champions League or if the gulf in class between the Scottish Premiership and elite-level European club football is too big a gap to bridge.

What Schmeichel does know is that this one result won’t define Celtic’s season. Schmeichel said: “There’s always a debate. That approach has been very successful for us this season. Sometimes you just come up against an opposition where everything goes their way.

“It was one of those results that can happen now and then. They happen. I’ve been lucky enough to be at the other end of some of them as well. Sometimes it’s like everything the opposition hits goes in. They get the luck or the rub of the green to get a result like that. It’s not one of those results that’s indicative of us as a team. We’ve had a very good start to the season and have to remember that. We just have to take it on the chin now. It’s not who we are or what we have been.

“You need to take the rough with the smooth when this happens. as we’ve been on the other side a lot this season.”

The objective for Schmeichel and Celtic remains the same. The men in green and white will qualify for the knockout phase if they finish in the top 24. With two down and six games of the Champions League league phase to go, Schmeichel won’t be rushing to make any snap judgements. Despite what he labelled a ‘freak result’ in Dortmund the Dane still has faith in the process. He said: “I always say, nothing in football is easy. If it was easy then everyone would do it. You have to earn absolutely everything in this game. No one is going to give you anything.

“The other night we had the kind of result that we have dished out a few times already this season. It was a tough night but it’s been fantastic since I joined the club. The other night was an isolated incident, the kind of freak result that can happen now and again, but it’s not indicative of this season.

“Remember, this is the first time we’ve lost this season. It won’t damage the belief. We are two games into an eight-game campaign in the Champions League – there is a long way to go.”

Schmeichel didn’t go looking for trouble in Germany, it just arrived in his six-yard box. Rodgers’ men tried to step into the Bundesliga side’s face and it backfired spectacularly. On a torrid Tuesday night in the Champions League in Dortmund, Celtic and Schmeichel had come to the wrong place.

Elena Sadiku digs out Rangers again as Celtic women boss tells rivals ‘you’re not the better team’

The rivals face face at Broadwood on Thursday night

Celtic Women’s head coach Elena Sadiku

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Elena Sadiku has insisted her side were worthy title winners last season as they prepare for their first meeting of the campaign against Rangers.

Jo Potter’s side were pipped to the title in the dramatic final moments of the campaign. And Celtic boss Sadiku has poured cold water on any theory Rangers had the better squad last season. “They were not (the better team). We won the league, we always aim to win and to win well. That is not going to change.”

Sadiku has been no stranger to a bit of fighting talk with her side’s rivals across the city. She crossed words with Potter back in April after Rangers’ win in the Scottish Cup semi-finals, after Potter had criticised their use of the pre-match huddle.

The Gers boss said those ‘tactics’ were a sign of Celtic’s weak mindset, before Sadiku fired back: “We always do the same thing before games but I think she just wants to have something to say and be tough about it, so I don’t care what she’s saying.

“I think she just wants to have something to say. If she thinks that’s our mindset then she can because I couldn’t care less what she has to say.

“We always do the same thing so I don’t know where she got that from. If it’s something she wants to focus on, let her focus on it.

As far as Potter is concerned, Thursday’s clash is about keeping up their 100 per cent start and making sure there are no slips this time. On the final day of the SWPL last May, Potter spoke about wanting her players to feel the title hurt.

Last season Rangers did not lose in the league to either Celtic or City but isolated slip-ups elsewhere proved particularly costly. “These games do matter, you can’t lose too many, they’re important but you can’t take your eye off any of the others,” said Potter.

“We know we have to be bang at it. We had a healthy head start last season before the split so we want to maintain that.”

Trusty called up by Pochettino but CCV misses out from USMNT

Auston Trusty applauds the Celtic fans at full-time following their 0-6 victory over St Johnstone. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Football, McDiarmid Park, Perth on 28 September 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Mauricio Pochettino has named his first USMNT squad since becoming manager. The former Spurs and Chelsea boss has selected Celtic defender Auston Trusty but his colleague, Cameron Carter-Vickers, misses out through injury.

Rodgers after defeat at Dortmund: ‘For our players, it’s a big learning’

Trusty has come into the Celtic team since CCV was forced into the treatment room with the toe injury that forced him to miss the Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The 26-year-old was a big miss as Celtic conceded 7 goals against the Bundesliga outfit.

The full squad headed to Texas 🤠 pic.twitter.com/A3KpUsnYpP

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) October 2, 2024

Trusty will look for a place in the starting XI for the games against Panama and Mexico as he looks to get his fitness levels up.

The international break will give CCV additional time to recuperate following the injury as it means he’ll be able to stay in Glasgow without games. The benefit will hopefully be that Celtic are able to call upon their star defender on the other side of the international break.

Pochettino will likely be keeping tabs on Carter-Vickers and this a benefit to both players if they were to strike up a partnership under Brendan. Trusty was signed from Sheffield United in a deal worth £6m that will see him compete with Liam Scales for a place in the starting XI.

German police assault football fan carrying Palestinian flag

Police officers knelt on Celtic football club fan during UEFA Champions League match

ISTANBUL

The German police assaulted Scotland’s Celtic football club fan and pushed him to the ground for carrying a Palestinian flag.

The incident happened during Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League game against Celtic at Borussia Dortmund’s home ground Signal Iduna Park as three of five police officers at the site knelt on the football fan for several minutes.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

More than 41,600 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 96,600 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Israel has also launched massive airstrikes since Sept. 23 against what it calls Hezbollah targets across Lebanon that have killed 1,928 people and injured nearly 9,300, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The major Adidas update that will see Celtic join European elite

St Johnstone v Celtic – Callum McGregor celebrates scoring our fourth goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match at McDiarmid Park, Perth on Saturday September 28, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

Celtic and Adidas look set to continue their successful partnership by extending the German manufacturer’s contract to kit out the Scottish Champions. Adidas have provided the Hoops since 2020 and their efforts have been well received by the Celtic support.

Rodgers after defeat at Dortmund: ‘For our players, it’s a big learning’

FootyHeadlines are reporting that Celtic will be added to Adidas’ list of ‘Elite’ clubs next season, meaning that the cash involved could exceed the record breaking agreement back in 2020.

Adidas operate an ‘Elite’ level of clubs that they supply, often bringing out spezial ranges, historic collaborations and anniversary kits. There is evidence of the club testing the market with release along these lines and the market research appears to be that there is an appetite for it with Celtic.

Adidas and Celtic have successfully boasted record sales as the Celtic support have supported the team in the superstore as well as in the stands. Now, the agreement will see Celtic take their place at the top table of European football alongside giants like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Given the disparity between the top teams and Celtic on the pitch, it is hoped that improving in this area can help bridge that gap somewhat. The Celtic support deserve incredible praise for their support towards the club in the superstore and online, which has influenced Adidas into making this move.

The Celtic and adidas £29m cash boost that has manufacturer ‘ready’ to pull trigger on new deal

It’s reported Celtic and adidas are ready to extend their deal beyond the end of this season

The Celtic fourth kit (Image: Adidas)

Adidas are reportedly ready to extend their agreement with Celtic after a profitable first four years.

The Hoops switched from New Balance to the German sportswear giants in the summer of 2020, signing up to a five-year deal with one of the most iconic sports brands in the world in what was described as “the biggest kit sponsorship ever to be announced across Scottish sport.” It’s all seemingly gone to plan. ESPN have reported that, in 2023, Celtic kit sales generated £29m for adidas and that put them in the top 20 for kit sales among football clubs worldwide.

The agreement expires at the end of this season, but it looks unlikely this season’s kits will be the last produced by adidas. Kit specialists Footy Headlines are now reporting that adidas and Celtic are both ready to pull the trigger on extending the deal and it seems increasingly likely a long-term agreement will be announced before the end of the season.

There’s some uncertainty over main shirt sponsor Dafabet whose deal also expires at the end of the 2024/25 campaign. It remains to be seen if that will be extended, but it seems adidas are going nowhere.

Adidas Eye Blockbuster Celtic Extension After €34m Kit Success

Adidas and Celtic are reportedly set to extend their successful kit partnership, according to Footy Headlines. The current deal, which began in the 2020/21 season and runs until the end of the 2024/25 campaign, has proven to be a massive commercial success for both parties. However, there is no confirmed information yet on how many additional seasons the new agreement might cover.

When Celtic originally announced the five-year deal with Adidas, it was hailed as the biggest kit sponsorship ever to be announced across Scottish sport. The partnership has certainly lived up to that billing, with Celtic breaking into the top 20 best-selling clubs in 2023, generating an impressive £29 million (€34 million) in kit sales alone. This is a clear indicator of the strong demand for Celtic-branded Adidas products, and both the club and the sportswear giant are understandably keen to continue their collaboration.

Historically, Celtic has switched between major kit suppliers, moving from Umbro to Nike and then to New Balance before securing the lucrative Adidas deal. Given the continued success of the current partnership, any extension is likely to be another bumper deal, although the final terms will hinge on how many years are included in the contract.

Adidas has delivered more than just the standard three first-team kits per season, also providing an extensive range of training gear, special edition jerseys, and even Celtic-branded trainers. Their prolific output has made them a hit with Celtic fans, and it seems the German sportswear giant is equally happy with the relationship.

Even the most hardened Celtic fan will find it difficult to point to anything positive from last night’s Champions League result against Borussia Dortmund.

The 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund has left the vast majority of the Celtic support shell-shocked as they try and piece together why Brendan Rodgers’ men performed so badly.

From front to back, Celtic was poor and even after scoring a quick equaliser after Dortmund went 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, Rodgers’ side never really looked like getting going as the Bundelsiga side asserted their authority on the Scottish champions.

However, Neil Lennon reckons that there was one player who got pass marks in Celtic’s humbling in Dortmund as the former Hoops boss said he looks like ‘a real asset’ in the Champions League.

Daizen Maeda is Celtic’s shining light in Germany

Daizen Maeda was once again full of energy even though Celtic toiled in Germany and Lennon reckons he is now showing his true worth against the best players in Europe.

Lennon told TNT Sports, “Alright, if you can’t play through the teams, then you get down the sides, and you get Maeda away and to be fair to Maeda, he kept going all night.

“He was a threat all night down that left-hand side and he is a real asset at this level. But there wasn’t enough from Kyogo.

“To be fair, he was starved of the ball. They didn’t play anywhere near quick passes behind the Dortmund defence.

“They just even to get a corner and take the sting out of the game for a little bit and get a breather and get reset.

“After 3-1 that should have been a time to go, ‘Okay, we hold what we have until half time and then we’ll take it from there’ but they never did.

“They just kept playing the same way, and kept getting punished for it.”

Maeda’s Celtic performance vs Borussia Dortmund

Despite doing a lot of chasing and harrying, Maeda performed admirably in the 7-1 defeat in the Westenfallonstadion.

Rated 6.9 by Fotmob, on top of his goal, the Japanese winger had a further two shots on goal, created two chances and had five touches inside Dortmund’s box as he tried to break them down.

Defensively, Maeda won two out of his seven duels, made one clearance, three defensive actions and two interceptions as he tried to keep Nuri Sahin’s side at bay.

Unfortunately the Japan international made a mistake which led to a Dortmund goal but, overall, he was one of Celtic’s best performers in a night many fans want to forget.

The best thing Brendan Rodgers can do right now is to draw a line under this defeat and try to pick his team up for the tricky trip to Dingwall where a struggling Ross County await on Sunday afternoon.

SPFL club appeal for £200k within two weeks to avoid administration as Rangers liquidators placed on standby

League One side facing grave financial situation

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have issued an urgent appeal after admitting that administration is inevitable unless the club raises £200,000 within the next two weeks.

The League One side are in danger of going bust after suffering relegation from the Championship last season with former chairman Alan Savage putting in £350,000 of his own money to keep the club afloat over the summer.

However, a financial report conducted by Savage has found that the Highlanders require a further investment of between £1.4million and £1.6million to make it to the end of the season, including an immediate £200,000 injection to avoid falling into insolvency by Wednesday, October 16.

A crowdfunding page is to be launched where pledges can be made to a Save ICT Fund while an emergency meeting of shareholders, supporters and stakeholders will be held at the Caledonian Stadium on Monday, October 7 at 7.30pm.

In a letter to shareholders, interim chairman Panos Thomas detailed the grave financial situation facing the club.

“Unless the Appeal can raise £200,000 immediately, and certainly by Wednesday, October 16, then administration is inevitable, because the club would be insolvent,” the letter stated.

The report found that the club suffered a £1.2million loss last season with another £1.2million deficit predicted for the current season. Trade creditors including HMRC stood at £600,000 in early August with loan debts to former directors standing at £3.425million, leaving the club facing a negative £3.8million balance sheet by May 2025.

Caledonian Stadium, the home of Scottish League One side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. (Photo by Paul Byars / SNS Group) | SNS Group

The club discussed its predicament with the SPFL last month while meetings have also taken place with adminstators BDO, the same company that handled the liquidation of Rangers in 2012. Should Inverness enter administration they would face an immediate 15-point deduction with redundancies also inevitable among both playing and non-playing staff. Manager Duncan Ferguson has already taken a 40 per cent pay cut to help protect jobs at the club.

The letter continued: “Discussions with Scotland’s leading football administrator has also taken place, after which the Board determined that it was duty bound to investigate what the administration process would entail, if that was to be initiated in a final attempt to avoid liquidation of the club. Subsequent discussions have been opened with an Administrator experienced in dealing with Administrations for Scottish Football Clubs.”

Inverness remain hopeful that a potential lifeline could emerge from a proposal to build a battery farm on adjacent ground which could be worth around £3.4million to the club through the sale of land. The initial planning application was rejected by Highland Council in March but an appeal has been lodged with the Scottish Government.

The letter added: “Whilst Alan Savage’s temporary financial lifeline has undoubtedly saved the club from insolvency in the last few months, now that he has reported in depth to the Board, it would be unrealistic to expect that lifeline to continue. A decision as to the future path of the club must be made in the next few weeks and certainly by end October at the latest.

“As a club Board, it is incumbent on us to formally report this to you, the shareholders, as we have done above, seek your views and any suggestions to save the club, that may not have come to the fore over the last few months, and then act appropriately, in accordance with our statutory duties as directors.

“What no Balance Sheet or financial analysis recognises, of course, is that the club’s most valuable asset is its fan base. They provide the life blood for the club and we recognised that we should also make further steps through the Supporters Trust and publicly, to appeal to them to help the club to survive.

“We need to accept the reality of the situation that with debt by May 2025 likely to be £1.4 – £1.6 million (to cover cash loss, potential claims and back log creditors) and a balance sheet standing at negative £3.8 million by the financial year end in May 2025, finding a credible buyer is highly aspirational.

“However, a former Chairman has expressed the opinion within the last week, that he feels confident that Administration could be avoided, if the Board reached out to former Directors and major Shareholders to see what amount of money could be raised quickly to save the Club. Whilst we have already done just that, and on more than one occasion, nonetheless, and in line with this request, the Board are reaching out once again, and by virtue of this letter, to all shareholders, to former Directors, fans and all Stakeholders, to ascertain if it is still possible to raise money of the levels indicated above.

“It is a matter of considerable regret that, as interim Chairman, I have had to write to you in these terms, but you need to be fully aware of matters as they stand currently and with support of the Board, shareholders, fans and stakeholders, rest assured that we will continue to work assiduously and explore every avenue in an attempt to restore the club to a financial equilibrium that will ensure its future for years to come.”

 

£49m bonanza on the cards as Celtic chief with 16 years of service joins Aston Villa

Aston Villa have poached a key member of Celtic’s executive team and are now looking to leverage the move to gain a financial edge over their peers in the Premier League.

Villa host Bayern Munich in a blockbuster clash in the Champions League tonight, their first at Villa Park in the competition since 1983.

The match, which is especially poignant since it was Bayern who Villa beat to win the competition in 1982, has been the source of controversy regarding ticket prices.

Villa‘s president of business Chris Heck penned a statement following the backlash, saying that the pricing structure – which has seen fans forced to shell out between £70 and £97 – was a “difficult decision.”

The American, who was previously president of NBA franchise the Philadelphia 76ers, insisted that Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) mean the club has to generate as much revenue as possible.

The Premier League‘s PSR system limits clubs to losses of £105m over a rolling three-year period, while UEFA’s equivalent caps spending on wages, transfers and agent fees this season at 80 per cent.

Villa owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris have underwritten major losses in order to get the club into the Champions League, and the club only narrowly dodged a PSR breach last season.

There are plans to expand Villa Park and supercharge their matchday income, but that will take years to yield material financial results.

Villa are therefore looking to commercial income as a top priority – and there has been positive news on that front as they seek to supercharge their sponsorship and merchandise strategy.

Villa appoint new chief commercial officer

In the last financial year on record, 2022-23, Villa banked £40.4m in commercial income.

They finished 7th that season, and analysis from the world-renowned finance analyst Swiss Ramble forecasts that they will reveal commercial income of £48m when they release their 2023-24 accounts.

This season, the numbers will be far greater thanks to a number of new lucrative sponsorship deals and the enthusiasm about the Champions League campaign, which will generate more sales.

Now, as reported by Sport Business, Villa have appointed a new chief commercial officer to operate alongside Chris Heck and the rest of the c-suite at Villa Park.

Adrian Filby is joining from Celtic, where he spent 16 years as the club’s commercial director, during which time he oversaw a near 100 per cent increase in commercial income to £29m at the last count.

The highly-rated operator will be responsible for maximising revenue through sponsorships, partnerships, merchandising, and marketing initiatives.

Adidas and Betano deals to inflate Villa’s finances

It was a busy summer for Villa in the transfer market, but just as busy in the commercial department.

In time for their Champions League campaign, the club struck front-of-shirt and kit deals with Adidas and Betano respectively, with both partnerships worth a reported £20m per year.

The Betano deal will last a maximum of two years as the Premier League will outlaw front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship from 2026-27.

But the additional revenue likely means Villa will earn £70-80m in commercial income this season, placing them alongside the likes of Newcastle United in this metric.

Rodgers admits that ‘spooked’ Celtic were hard to watch in Dortmund drubbing

“At this level, especially away from home against a top team, you need to be at your highest level. We weren’t and they were.”

PLENTY TO CHEW ON: Celtic’s head coach Brendan Rodgers watches his players during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt his team got “spooked” by Borussia Dortmund’s quickfire response before being heavily punished for a number of mistakes in a 7-1 thrashing in Germany.

The Hoops arrived at Signal Iduna Park in optimistic mood and in free-scoring form after 17 consecutive wins, including a 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava in their opening match of the Champions League.

But they were on the end of the kind of thrashing that they have been handing out themselves in recent weeks.

Daizen Maeda’s ninth-minute equaliser was the high point for the travelling support but Karim Adeyemi netted the first goal of his first-half hat-trick two minutes later.

Rodgers said: “It was a tough watch to be honest. We weren’t quite at our best and they showed why they’re a top, top team.

“We didn’t make the start that we wanted and then, like I said to the players afterwards, I don’t think I’ve been involved in a game where I felt that every single mistake that we made got punished.

“And that’s the level. Any misplaced pass or moment that they had, it just seemed to end up in the back of the net. And then on the other side, we had a couple of moments in the second half and it didn’t just quite fall for us.

“At this level, especially away from home against a top team, you need to be at your highest level. We weren’t and they were.”

Some basic errors on the ball were punished, including Maeda twice losing the ball to Adeyemi before the forward finished in lethal fashion.

“That’s the learning that comes away from this level,” Rodgers said.

“I think that we may have got spooked a little bit early on. We get the equaliser and very, very quickly we’re then 2-1 behind. They get a foothold in the game, start to move it well and we start to chase it a little bit.

“So it was a mixture of our positioning but also then just our quality and our passing. We were either short or didn’t make the right pass or the touch wasn’t quite right. So we just didn’t play a good game technically.”

Rodgers’ Celtic sides have been on the end of similar defeats in the Champions League in the past but he is not minded to change their approach.

“We went in high in confidence,” he said. “The team’s been playing ever so well. So we felt we were in a really good place. But I think we needed to start the game much better than we did.

“When we analyse the game, there were certain issues, positioning, that we would have to be better in.

“We got punished for passes and loose bits of play. It was absolutely ruthless in the finishing. It was actually incredible to see.

“At times our positioning was a little bit too open and you’ve just got to really tighten the game or else they play through you, and that’s what they did.

“Once they’re in then that speed and power that they have at the very highest level, then you see where it takes them.”

PA

Match Report: Karim Adeyemi Shines as Borussia Dortmund Hit Celtic for Seven in Champions League

Borussia Dortmund vs Celtic: A UEFA Champions League Spectacle

In a night that saw Borussia Dortmund deliver a masterclass, Celtic’s early season unbeaten run faced a harsh reality check. Signal Iduna Park hosted a UEFA Champions League clash that ended in a staggering 7-1 victory for the home team, leaving the visitors grappling with the sheer pace and skill of Dortmund’s lineup.

Karim Adeyemi stole the show with a formidable hat-trick, setting the tone for what was a one-sided affair. This result positions Dortmund as serious contenders to progress deep into the tournament, building on the legacy of their previous campaigns.

Early Exchange Sets Stage for Goal Fest

The match began with a frenetic pace as Dortmund were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute, confidently converted by Emre Can. However, Celtic quickly responded with Daizen Maeda poking home a cross from Arne Engels. This brief comeback was short-lived, as Dortmund’s relentless attack, spearheaded by Adeyemi, overwhelmed Celtic’s defences.

Adeyemi’s blend of pace and precision saw him complete a hat-trick by the end of the first half, with additional goals from Serhou Guirassy and Felix Nmecha rounding off the scoring. The sheer dominance of Dortmund was evident as they took a commanding 5-1 lead into the break.

Celtic’s Defensive Woes Exposed

Celtic, despite their optimistic start to the season, were visibly outpaced and outmanoeuvred. Missing key defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, they struggled to contain Dortmund’s dynamic forward play. Kasper Schmeichel, in goal for Celtic, made several crucial saves, but the defensive breaches were too significant to salvage the game.

Brendan Rodgers, Celtic’s manager, admitted the game was a reality check against top-tier competition. He noted, “We’ve got to be better. We know the quality of Dortmund, and tonight, they showed why they’re one of Europe’s elite.”

Dortmund’s Depth and Quality Shine

Even without some of their star players from the last season, Dortmund’s squad depth was on full display. New and returning players seamlessly filled the gaps, with Julian Brandt orchestrating plays and contributing to Dortmund’s attacking prowess. This adaptability and tactical acumen underpin Dortmund’s potential for another deep run in the Champions League.

Looking ahead, Dortmund’s schedule doesn’t get any easier with a fixture against Real Madrid on the horizon. Meanwhile, Celtic must regroup as they face Atalanta, aiming to inject some resilience and tactical astuteness into their play.

Analysis and Outlook

Dortmund’s performance against Celtic was a stark reminder of their capabilities when firing on all cylinders. With a combination of youth and experience, they are a team that can disrupt the best in Europe.

Celtic, on the other hand, need to find answers quickly. Their next games in the Champions League will be crucial in determining the trajectory of their European campaign. As they seek redemption, the focus will be on shoring up their defence and finding consistency against Europe’s top teams.

In conclusion, while Dortmund celebrate a spectacular victory, Celtic are left to ponder what might have been and what needs to change. The road ahead in the UEFA Champions League remains daunting but filled with opportunities for both teams to define their seasons.

Final Thoughts

As the dust settles on this UEFA Champions League encounter, both Borussia Dortmund and Celtic look towards their next European fixtures with different expectations. Dortmund, buoyed by their success, aim to maintain their momentum, while Celtic must harness this tough lesson to bolster their campaign.

This match was not just a game of goals, but a story of tactical success and failure, of potential fulfilled and opportunities missed. The UEFA Champions League continues to be a stage for drama, excellence, and footballing lessons, as was emphatically highlighted in Dortmund’s emphatic win over Celtic.

Rodgers admits Celtic defeat to Borussia Dortmund was ‘a tough watch’

The Celtic boss saw his side thumped 7-1 in Germany.

Play VideoSNS GroupDismay: Rodgers said every mistake was punished.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admitted his side’s 7-1 thumping at the hands of Borussia Dortmund was painful to see, and he said his side were punished for every mistake on a miserable night of Champions League football.

Dortmund took the lead from the penalty spot when Emre Can scored after seven minutes and though Daizen Maeda scored a quickfire equaliser, the hosts went on to score freely.

Karim Adeyemi netted a hat-trick, while Serhou Guirassy grabbed two goals and Felix Nmecha rounded off the scoring, with Celtic struggling to impose their own game on Dortmund or contain the pacy attack.

“It was a tough watch, to be honest,” Rodgers said. “We weren’t quite at our best.

“They showed why they are a top, top team. We didn’t make the start we wanted.

“I don’t think I’ve been involved in a game where every mistake got punished. That’s the level.

“Any misplaced pass or moment that they had seemed to end up in the back of the net. And on the other side, the couple of moments we had in the second half didn’t fall for us.

“At this level, especially away from home against a top team, you need to be at your highest level. We weren’t that and they were. You could see the quality that they have.”

Several of the Dortmund goals came from slack passes or Celtic being caught in possession while trying to play out and the manager said that lessons had to be learned. Rodgers felt his side weren’t at their technical best and also got their positioning wrong too often.

“That’s the learning that comes away from this level,” he said. “We got spooked early on. We get to 1-1, which is good but then very quickly we go 2-1 behind and they get a foothold in the game, start to move it around and we have to chase it.

“It was a mixture of our positioning but also our quality in our passing, where short or the wrong pass or the touch wasn’t right. We just didn’t play a good game on a technical level.”

The Scottish champions went into the game in strong form, having won every game this season and looking good at both ends of the pitch. Rodgers felt Dortmund were of “a different level” and he admitted he will have to “inspire” his players again after a bruising experience.

“We went in high in confidence because we had been playing ever so well,” the manager added. “We felt we were in a really good place.

“We had to start much better than we did, as we gave away really cheap goals.

“If you analyse the game, there’s positions we would have to be have been better in and we got punished for loose bits of play and passes. They will punish you and they were ruthless in their finishing. It was incredible to see.

“It’s very difficult for us to get to that level. It’s a different level, with the greatest respect. We want to be more competitive, that’s what was disappointing from our perspective.

“My job is to go away and inspire the players again. We need to learn from it or we will get punished at this level.”

Kris Boyd trolls Brendan Rodgers as Rangers hero lands Celtic ‘best team’ jab on boss after joining Dortmund’s Yellow Wall

The former Ibrox hitman didn’t waste any time to have a pop at the Hoops

Kris Boyd has wasted no time to troll Celtic after their Champions League nightmare in Dortmund.

The Rangers hero took a social media swipe at Brendan Rodgers’ men after a sobering night in Germany on matchday two of their Champions League adventure. The Scottish champions had a night to forget as they lost SEVEN goals at Signal Iduna Park. The hosts showed their lethal touch in front of goal and held a 5-1 advantage at the break with two further strikes in the second period.

Celtic have been firing on all cylinders domestically with Rodgers and his table toppers boasting a 100 per cent record – but this is one they will want to forget in a hurry. But Light Blues hero and pundit Boyd was in no mood to let that happen in a hurry. He uploaded a picture of a ‘Yellow Wall’ on his Instagram profile in reference to Dortmund and their famous fan stand with a number of ‘flushed face’ emoji icons.

He then uploaded further posts to his stories with one of Rodgers and Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin post-match and he caption it: “”Please let the players know they’re the best team we’ve faced this season.” Before a THIRD upload of his face photoshopped in amongst the Dortmund fans. He added: “I will be back again. Loved my trip to @bvb09.” alongside two clapping emojis.

Kris Boyd trolls Celtic on Instagram

Karim Adeyemi netted a first half hat-trick for the hosts while fellow attacker Serhou Guirassy bagged a double. Emre Can and Felix Nmecha grabbed the other goals while Daizen Maeda hit Celtic’s solo strike to level early on in the match before the home side ran riot in front of a packed out crowd.

Boyd’s further social media update

Rodgers’ naive Celtic fall into familiar European trap’

On a bleak night, there was a moment of dark comedy when Brendan Rodgers sat down to assess the unmerciful hiding that had just been inflicted on his team.

“We weren’t quite at our best,” said the Celtic manager in the wake of the deluge that washed over his players.

He said it without fear of contradiction. After watching his team lose 7-1 while committing so many errors that 10-1 wouldn’t have flattered Borussia Dortmund, not quite at their best was a fairly unarguable take.

Dortmund preyed on Celtic’s naivety and rendered them quivering wrecks inside half an hour. It was brutal. Their end was swift and horrible.

The errors that the spooked visitors made were jaw-dropping. The mere sight of a yellow and black jersey turned their composure to mush.

Some of the goals were outstanding finishes, lustily banged home by players who couldn’t believe their luck.

Julian Brandt found as much space as he liked in midfield and nobody thought it sensible to do something about it. But Celtic don’t really have a player who is made that way, a destroyer, a guy who can sense danger, a character who can – Lord forbid – let Brandt know he’s there.

Celtic suffer Champions League torment in Dortmund

Rodgers won’t change approach despite rout

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5 hours ago

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In a word, Celtic were soft.

Many of the goals had their origins in players losing the plot in possession. Daizen Maeda did it; Alastair Johnston did it; Auston Trusty did it. Three different Celtic players did it within seconds of each other in the lead-up to the seventh goal.

The “acid test” Rodgers called this. “For us, it’s looking to bring our game to the next level,” he said on the eve of the match.

Of course, he didn’t say which direction he was thinking of when talking about the next level. Up or down?

Dortmund might have noted Rodgers’ fighting talk about how great a place the team was in (he didn’t mean Dortmund) and how he knew that they had the mentality to “hurt teams.”

Based on weekly routings of clubs with a tiny percentage of their budget. Flimsy evidence that they chose to interpret as compelling. Again.

This was a monumental humiliation for Celtic, a team that once again fell into the trap of believing that just because you can play freewheeling football against St Johnstone in Perth on a Saturday means that you can try to do the same against Borussia in Dortmund on a Tuesday.

Pragmatism? Closing the space? Staying in the fight? Keeping it tight and compact in the face of Dortmund’s obvious pace and danger? No, no. They set up like they set up against St Johnstone and Falkirk and Hibs and Rangers.

They felt they could go toe-to-toe with Dortmund because that’s what they do in Scotland and opponents fall at their dancing feet. They were pretty bullish about their readiness to transfer domestic superiority into the unforgiving fields of Europe. They’re nowhere near.

Until Rodgers introduces some overdue realism when playing some of Europe’s best, then this is likely to continue. They’ll be another shellacking down the line if he doesn’t change course.

‘Repeat offenders punished again’

Celtic are repeat offenders under their manager. That’s a second 7-1 Champions League defeat he has suffered at the club. That’s on top of a 5-0, a 6-0 and a 7-0.

Most of the biggest beatings in Celtic’s European history have Rodgers’ name beside them. He’s been a brilliant domestic manager, but Europe has been painful.

We saw again Celtic’s habit of conceding goals in clusters. They shipped three in quick order in Dortmund and the game was done.

Last season they conceded three times in 16 minutes in the 6-0 loss to Atletico Madrid and twice in three minutes against Lazio in Rome.

This goes back awhile. In the Europa League in the last season of Rodgers’ first spell in 2018-19, they lost two in six minutes against Salzburg, two in four minutes against Leipzig, and two in seven minutes against Valencia.

In other Champions League games under Rodgers, they conceded two in two and another two in six on the same night against PSG. In the return game, they lost two in four and another two in six.

They shipped three goals in 10 against Barcelona in 2016 in that 7-0 defeat.
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‘It’s very difficult for us to get to that level’ – Rodgers

What happened to them in Dortmund was a shock, but it shouldn’t have been.

It’s just a continuation of a theme involving a manager who has been singularly unable to achieve even the modest goal of making his team resilient in the face of superior opposition. Too often, they go down in flames.

Later on Tuesday, Rodgers was asked if he would do anything different in the way of formation. “Not really,” he replied.

Their next game is away to Atalanta, who beat a mighty Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in last season’s Europa League final and who started their Champions League campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal.

That one has menace written all over it if Celtic sleep-walk into it in the way they appear to have sleep-walked their way to Dortmund.

In the preamble to Tuesday, Rodgers outlined his goals for the night. “I’m not looking for perfection,” he said, which was just as well.

What he got had a wearying familiarity to it. Pride before a fall and all of that.

You’d say that he needs to learn lessons about how he sets up his team for these tough assignments in Europe, but those things were said in his first spell, too.

History is repeating itself in more ways than one.

Brendan Rodgers’ Champions League approach comes under the microscope

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looked shell-shocked on the touchline (Image: PA Wire via DPA)

Celtic have unfortunately become this week’s whipping boys in the UEFA Champions League after losing 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund in Germany on Tuesday night

It’s the third time Celtic have conceded seven goals during a European tie across Brendan Rodgers’ two tenures, with Dortmund joining Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain on that unwanted list.

The Hoops were punished for several mistakes and couldn’t deny the Bundesliga side from continually treating their goal.

Analysing the match on Sky Sports News, former Celtic full-back Mark Wilson described the defeat as a “reality check”.

Rodgers has repeatedly insisted that his squad are capable of going toe-to-toe with the continent’s very best.

However on the latest evidence, perhaps the Glasgow powerhouse are still miles away from where their manager wants them to be.

“You could describe it as a reality check, a sobering evening probably for Celtic,” Wilson commented.

“Realistically it’s a glimpse of the different levels of side’s at the top tier of Europe compared to where Celtic are at this moment in time. That’s what leads to score lines like tonight.

“Dortmund are a very good side, very clinical, but I think when Brendan Rodgers analyses the game, he will be unhappy at the amount of mistakes his side made in possession.

“That’s unlike Celtic because obviously domestically they have a large share of the ball and usually make it count, but Dortmund just let them make their own mistakes. As soon as they made a mistake Dortmund pounced, and they took their chance.

“If I’m totally honest, it finishes 7-1 but I can count four or five times Kasper Schmeichel pulled off some decent saves, so it could’ve been a lot worse for Celtic.”

PA Wire via DPA)
rsenal invincible Martin Keown also crucified Rodgers’ approach – claiming the Celtic gaffer can no longer pretend his team are capable of being among Europe’s elite.

“You can’t keep playing the same way,” he said on the TNT Sports Goals Show. “They didn’t adjust. In their own domestic league they are just too good for everyone else and they are not used to being out of possession.

“It’s about learning from this but the manager is just as culpable as the players. You don’t win on your own and take all the credit for the wins in the domestic league and everyone is saying ‘Brendan is a fantastic manager’ – it’s a joint effort. They are equally to blame here. The manager needs to sort this out with the players.

“You can’t go toe-to-toe with some of these European greats. They played in final of the Champions League last year. You have got to adjust. You can’t pretend there is not a difference in quality and that’s what happened tonight.”

PA Wire via DPA
Meanwhile, ex-Celtic ‘keeper Pat Bonner highlighted the sorry fact that it could’ve been a even larger deficit had Kasper Schmeichel not have pulled off some important saves.

“Reality kicks in,” he told BBC Sportsound. “A tough night to forget. Embarrassing, to say the least. It all comes down to the structure and the way Celtic set up defensively. And the mistakes. The mistakes that were then compounded by the nervousness.

Luis Palma ‘makes decision’ on Celtic future after summit as £13.3m January transfer splurge gets green light

The winger has struggled for regular game time so far this season

Luis Palma – Celtic career in pictures

Fringe man Luis Palma has reportedly told Brendan Rodgers he wants to see out the season with Celtic.

The 24-year-old has been down the pecking order at Parkhead so far this season and faced criticism from fans after his social media antics in the wake of a disappointing display in his only start this season against Scottish Championship side Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup. In the 6-0 rout of St Johnstone the following weekend, the Honduran failed to make the matchday squad.

But despite facing a battle for his Celtic future, it appears the Honduran is up for the fight. El Heraldo claim that Palma “has made personal decision” to remain with the club following talks with Rodgers with a potential January exit on the cards – with suitors showing interest in the winger towards the end of the summer window. He wants “to repay the trust of his coach, with whom he has a good relationship.”

It is claimed the player has pledged to “take a break from social media and focus on recovering his level.” It comes with Celtic seemingly eyeing potential replacements including Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

Balikwisha has impressed both domestically and in the Champions League for Royal Antwerp (Image: Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Previously, CEO Sven Jaecques has claimed the Premiership leaders showed an interest in the wide man in the last window – and he expects the Hoops to revive their interest in January as he floated a £5m price tag for the 23-year-old. He has now conceded the club may be forced to sell with the clock ticking on Balikwisha’s contract.

He told De Standaard: “He is committed until 2026 and it is clear to everyone that his contract is not expiring yet. But if it is impossible to reach an agreement on a new contract, we will work together towards a transfer. I understand that this is also the player’s choice for the time being.

Andres Iniesta’s glowing Celtic tribute as Spanish footballing icon announces plan to retire

One of the game’s most celebrated players has announced that he will hang up his boots for good next week at the age of 40

Barcelona superstars Lionel Messi (left), Xavi Hernandez (centre) and Andres Iniesta took a break from training to wish Celtic a happy anniversary year in 2012 (Image: SNS Group 0141 221 3602)

Andres Iniesta has revealed he will announce his retirement from professional football next week.

The legendary former Spain and Barcelona star will officially hang up his boots on Tuesday, October 8 in reference to the number he wore on the back of his shirt throughout his trophy-laden career. The 40-year-old – who left UAE club Emirates last summer after five years in Japan with Vissel Kobe – won a staggering 35 major honours between 2005 and 2023, including four Champions Leagues, one World Cup, two European Championships and nine La Liga titles.

The playmaker – who bagged the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa – played alongside Xavi and Sergio Busquets at Barcelona in what is widely regarded as the greatest midfield trio of all time, all of whom complemented Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in attack at the Camp Nou.

Iniesta came up against Celtic seven times during his illustrious 16-year spell at Barcelona and was on the winning side seven times, including a 7-0 rout of the Bhoys in 2016. But the acclaimed midfielder was also part of the Barca side that suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Parkhead in the group stage of the 2012/13 season. The Hoops had raced into a 2-0 lead courtesy of famous goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt, and although Messi pulled one back in injury time, Neil Lennon’s men held on for the victory.

In what turned out to be his final Parkhead outing in the following season, Iniesta was given a standing ovation by the Celtic faithful as he departed the field to be substituted in a game where a goal from Cesc Fabregas was enough to separate the two sides. The classy Spanish legend later admitted just how much he enjoyed playing at Celtic Park when asked about some of the best stadiums he had the chance to play at during his iconic career.

He said: “I’ll never forget playing against Celtic, either. The atmosphere is one of the best in the world. I was fortunate to play there several times and it was always so intense. It was an honour to play amid such incredible noise.”

Fran Alonso and Houston Dash “have agreed to part ways”

12/02/2023. Celtic head coach, Fran Alonso during the Women s Scottish Cup match between Boroughmuir Thistle and Celtic Women at Meadowbank Sports Centre on 12 February 2023. Photo Malcolm MackenziexPSI

Fran Alonso and American side Houston Dash have parted company, just ten months after the former Celtic FC Women manager left Celtic to take the manager’s job at the National Women’s Soccer League side.

Houston have only recorded four wins this year, with five draws and 13 defeats and currently are bottom of the table.

Fran Alonso has not been involved in the squad for a while now and has not been mentioned in Houston Dash reports around their games, where scoring goals has been a real problem.

Today, in an official statement from Houston Dash, Fran’s exit by mutual consent has been confirmed.

“The Houston Dash and head coach Fran Alonso have agreed to part ways in lieu of a return from his leave of absence. We thank Fran for his contributions to the team and wish him well in his future endeavours.” the short statement reads.

Fran Alonso left Celtic in December after achieving so much as the Celtic FC Women manager, taking the club from the early days of being professional to winning both League and Scottish Cup (twice) and coming within seconds of an historic first title win. In his final season leaving just before last Christmas, Fran left Celtic an extra-special gift,  a significant goal difference advantage.

Elena Sadiku came in and got Celtic over the line with our first ever SWPL title win and in the end it was won on goal difference.  Elena has taken Celtic onto new heights in the Champions League, reaching the group stages for the first time ever and has upcoming home and away fixtures against Chelsea, Real Madrid and FC Twente to look forward to.

On Fran, it’s well worth a re-run of an article on The Celtic Star from 18 June 2024, which we’ll do below…

“We managed to make history, I will always be a Celtic fan,” Fran Alonso

“Yeah, I’m a Houston Dash now, and I’m still pretty Celtic, I’m a Celtic fan,” Fran Alonso told Spanish media outlet Diario AS. 

After his time in the Premier League working at Southampton and Everton, Fran Alonso moved into the women’s game he headed to Scotland with Fran explaining how that move came about.

“There was a process before. I was going to continue at Everton. The club wanted me and, in fact, on day 1 of the preseason I went to work and we did the session. After this, the new manager, Marco Silva, told me that he didn’t count on me. It left me without options. If they tell me before, maybe other teams could be interested, but he told me when all the squads and coaching bodies were closed. And I was left without a job,” Fran recalled.

“Then, the University of Liverpool, the men’s team, who had already contacted me when I was at Everton, insisted and I said yes. I trained them for a few months. Until Lewes, from the English Women’s Second Division, contacted me to sign me and I decided to leave. From Everton to the University of Liverpool and from Liverpool to Lewes.”

And, then, Celtic called him.

“In Lewes, after a year, a little less, I was not there for the entire season, but for the end of one and half of the other. As the Scottish league was winter, that’s when I decided to go to Celtic. Until then I was part-time, but they wanted to make me full-time and for me to be the first coach to help them change the structure,” Fran said.

Asked why Celtic were interested in him he explained that it was all to do with his work under top coaches in the English Premier League. “My previous agent worked with Celtic. I think he represented or had represented one of the Celtic managers, the one before me, I don’t know exactly, but I know that he had had contacts and it was through my agent who told me, ‘Look, I’ve been talking to the club and They are interested in your profile.’

“My agent presented the project to me and they contacted the club, Lewes, and when they gave them the green light we started the conversations, I went to Glasgow. I had to do a session for them to see me train with the men’s under-18 team, and it was perfect, I loved everything: facilities, the stadium, the people… and so did they, so from the beginning both the club and I knew it was the right move and the results are there.

“We managed to make history, it was spectacular the four years I was there and until now it is still something that gives me pleasure and remembering it is something very nice.

“I arrived in December 2019. As soon as we arrived we went to Gran Canaria for preseason, when we returned we started the league, we started very strong, winning 2-1 against Glasgow City, which was the champion team, and who had won the last 13 leagues in a row . A spectacular match.

“After that game, COVID arrived and they stopped the league. We had a lot of bad luck there. When we came back again, they made us repeat that game. That was one of the worst moments because I considered it very unfair.

“That game didn’t count because of COVID and we had to play against them again and that time we lost. But of course, we had a giant disadvantage. They were in the Champions League. And they are the only team in Scotland that were allowed to train, and we were only allowed to train two weeks before that game.

“The first half was 0-0, but in the second we lost the game 2-0, and that was key later, because that year in the last game we had a chance and Glasgow City won, and with that game we might have won, but it was the first time in history that we got into the Champions League, we had never got into it before,” Fran noted.

“That year there were no cups. The following year, in addition to participating in the Champions League which was a beautiful experience, we won both cups. It was the first year with cups and we won both, the Scottish Cup for the first time in the club’s history and the League Cup for the second time in the club’s history. Celtic women, until my arrival, had one trophy in its entire history,” Alonso pointed out.

“The following year we won the Scottish Cup again, which was our first at Hampden Park. For me, in my opinion, we were the best team in the league, or at least the one that played the best football. We were one minute away from being champions and a goal in another field, which was very difficult to happen, from Glasgow City against our biggest rival, Rangers, who were playing at home. They conceded a goal in the 92nd minute and took the league title away from us, but we qualified for the Champions League again. And this year, although I left the team in December, we have won our first league. I say we have, although I am no longer…”

But it’s also yours? asked the interviewer. “Yes, of course, in fact, there is no new signing on the team, they are all the players that I know, all the players. I feel very proud that the players we brought have won the league. It has been spectacular.

“I have had messages from all the members of the club, from managers, from players… when I went to Celtic I was not a Celtic fan, although at Southampton I met Victor Wuanyama, Fraser Foster, Arthur Boruc, Virgil van Dijk. .. Celtic legends, and everyone spoke wonderful things to me, but I didn’t become a fan until I came and saw what Glasgow was, what the fans were like.

“For me, the best fans in the world and from there I became a Celtic fan. In fact, last week, celebrating that we (Houston Dash) had the first victory at home, it had been a year since the team had won in our stadium. And we beat North Carolina 3-0 and, the next day, I went to see the final of the men’s Scottish Cup with Andy, the physical trainer that I brought from Celtic and the two of us in the green-and-white shirt supporting the team with the supporters’ club. Celtic in Houston. So I will always be a Celtic fan. It is one of the most beautiful stages in my football career without a doubt.

Houston knows Glasgow is green and white
🍀🏆@HoustonCSC pic.twitter.com/scEj3WhhoP

— Fran Alonso (@FranAlonsoFA) May 25, 2024

Asked to  summarise his time at Celtic in one sentence, Fran Alonso gave this response. “They call us ‘history makers’ there, and it is true that for four years we have made history. And not only that, we have changed Scottish women’s football forever.

“Last year, my last game at Celtic Park was with 15,800 people. That had never happened and has not happened again. It is true that we changed Scottish women’s football forever and that was credit to a group that, despite having tools, at the beginning many of our players were part-time.

“Kelly (Clark), our captain, is still an accountant. She can’t train every day that the others train. It is a team that has managed to overcome all those barriers that our other rivals do not have and manage to make history every year, against the odds.

“That’s why I tell you that it is one of the most beautiful stages of my career. It is a team with courage, heart and, above all, with the best fans in the country. He managed to overcome all the problems, all the barriers and manage to make history. That is the phrase that will stick with me.

“And it’s something that’s there every game, we finished last year and we had fans that went home and away. When you play away it seems like you’re playing at home because they only sing, all the players had their song… it’s spectacular. It is spectacular. I haven’t seen that in women’s football anywhere. Here (USA), it is true that the stadiums are full and it is impressive. The league here, for me, in my opinion, the American League is the best in the world, the most competitive. But it is true that I have not seen the passion that exists in Glasgow anywhere else in the world, with women’s football,” Fran said.

Listening to him talk the journalist wonders why Fran Alonso left Celtic. He gets sporting and even economic ambition as reasons why Fran decided to go to the United States. But he notes that the love Fran conveys for Celtic suggests that it could not have been an easy choice. So why did you do it and what was that process like? Was it via his agent or did Houston Dash go directly to the then Celtic FC Women manager?

“I found out because Houston Dash contacted the Celtic board to tell them they were interested in me. I had many conversations with the Celtic board because it is a place that I have loved, where I have been super happy.

“In the end it was decided that it could be a very important step for both of us. There was a very strong financial compensation, the strongest there has been in Scottish football. That was also going to help the project potentially win the League,” Fran Alonso said. “It wasn’t an easy decision, of course. When you are comfortable, you are doing well and you have brought in players who leave everything for you and the club every game, it is very difficult to get rid of that.

“What is true is that since I started as a volunteer in women’s soccer, my dream has always been the American League, which has always been the best in the world. The English one too, but for me the American one because it is the most competitive. You never know who is going to win it. Many of the best players in the world are coming here. Also coaches. We have now three Spaniards: Juan Carlos Amorós, now comes Jonathan Giráldez from Barça, who comes to Washington Spirit, where Adrián González is now as interim, and me.

“It is a league that is growing a lot, with world-class players who want to come. The 14 coaches who are here are privileged. It scared me, because I was comfortable in a club that I love. I’m still a Celtic man, but it’s true that you never know when your last chance will be. Maybe I’ll never have it again. So, I said to myself ‘Look, to know if I have what I have to have, if I can be in a league as strong as this, I’m going.’ And it was a joint decision, it was not unilateral,” Fran said.

“Of course Celtic wanted to keep me, but we understood each other and the exit could not have been more friendly. In fact, I keep in touch with them constantly. It was a little difficult for me at first to adapt here, especially after my experience in Glasgow, how people experience football here.”

And it turned out well for all parties. “Yes. Celtic have won the League, which means that they couldn’t have done better for the club. With what was paid for me they have been able to bring back Tash Flynn, who we could not retain and who this year has been key to winning the title. There are only 14 coaches in this league. I am privileged and although we have had a fairly slow start, I never give up and I am determined to get this through.

“The last three weeks have been quite positive. We lost the game against Portland, but against Angel City and the last home game with North Carolina, I think the team played very well. The high blood pressure was intense, which is something we were struggling with. I am happy with the team’s latest performances and we must continue working. I hope that we have the possibility of getting into the playoffs, which would only be the second time in our history, and once we are in the playoffs… for me, the knock-out competitions. I love them.

“At Celtic we only lost one cup game in all the years I was there. In all the cups we played only one game, and it was on penalties with 10 players, also, when we were winning 1-0. We have all won the rest. I love games in which you play everything at once and we are good at preparing for them. But the first thing is to get into the playoffs and then game by game.

Maybe, the journalist asked, Houston Dash wanted Fran Alonso for his great management skills in these hot moments. “Yes, they had statistics. When they announced me, they showed my winning rate, they announced the trophies and they also announced the number of players we signed and who became full internationals with us.

“For example, the case of Clarissa Larisey. She was a player who had never played for Canada in any of the youth categories and who came off the bench in the Icelandic league. We signed her, we improved her, we worked with her, she became a reference player for us and (Swedish side) Hacken signed her for a record price at that time. Now she is in all squads with the Olympic champions, that is spectacular. When she had never played and was not on the radar. Houston Dash announced all of this here as the reasons for my signing and I work every day so that they don’t regret bringing me here.

At Celtic, Fran Alonso was a shrewd tactician and operator in the transfer market. Can he do likewise at Houston Dash?

“You can put the training you want, but then you have to work on it. North Carolina, in the first league game, scored five against us. We lost 5-1 in our debut. They broke us in the transitions. If there is one good thing about being full-time, it is that you study all the games, all the chances they create for you, how they create them and how to eradicate them. The other day they created almost no clear chances for us in the entire game and we won 3-0 against a team that surpassed us in the first game. Not just for putting a line of four. We knew where we didn’t care if they had the ball, we knew where we didn’t want the ball to go and we managed to make their game predictable and they had a hard time creating chances for us. I have changed the microcycle here, because the players need more tactical work than they did at Celtic.

“There we also focused a lot on the conditional part, being very intense to counter press (high pressure), here you have to help a lot tactically. At Celtic the 11 against 11 was just one day, it was our endurance day. Here we do it for two or three days because the players have to learn more. We changed six weeks ago and the truth is that the team has been growing and the players are clearer about how we want to play.”

Asked if he has contacted any elite European soccer players, to consider a move to Houston,  give that there has been a lot of exports lately from Europe to the United States.

“Yes, we have been in conversations with players from ‘Top’ teams in the Spanish league, the French league, the German league, the Swedish league, etc. We have a General Manager who is the one who makes these types of decisions. I don’t sign here, like at Celtic, so we try to align the three, sometimes we agree, sometimes we don’t, but we try to align the three and they do a little more work to sell the club and the long term. and my job is then to talk to the player, how I can help her tactically, how the team plays, in a little more detail. And we have had conversations with several of those top players, the thing is that all the teams here want them. They will have to choose. I hope someone comes, but it’s difficult.

Celtic FC Manager, Fran Alonso punches the air in delight following his sides 1-0 victory during the Scottish Womens Premier League Cup Final match between Glasgow City FC & Celtic FC at Firhill Stadium, Maryhill, Scotland on 5 December 2021.

“I can’t give you names, but they are international players. I can give you a clue: a couple of them have been in the Champions League final. That’s as far as I can say. All these arrivals to the NSWL (National Women’s Soccer League) are due to the fact that it is possibly the most competitive in the world.  It is the most competitive League, for me, for two main reasons. The first is that all teams have the same budget. There is a budget cap. All teams have the same budget. It is true that there are teams that have different strategies that make them more or less attractive for players, but the transfer budget is the same.

“The other reason is the Draft, in which the best young players participate, because there are no established academies here, although there are some teams that have them, but it is not normal. The young players are in the university league, and when they finish university they enter this Draft. The teams that finish last choose first. Therefore, the best ones go to the teams that finished last.

Celtic FC Manager, Fran Alonso stands alongside the Womens Scottish Cup during the Scottish Women’s Cup Press Conference at Glasgow Women’s Library, Glasgow, Scotland on 24 May 2023.

Like in the NBA? “Yes, exactly the same. If a team is very interested in one of the players and wants one of those first picks, they buy it from the clubs that have it. That is ‘trading’ (exchange). That makes it a competitive league. In fact, two years ago, Gotham finished last and last year won. Imagine how competitive it is, a team that finishes last, and since there is no relegation, wins it the following year. More competitive is impossible. That’s why for me it is the best, the strongest league in the world. England is also very strong and has incredible economic resources. But only three teams can win it, no one else. Here almost 14 can win it.”

Including Houston? “Yes, well…By power, we can. It’s not impossible, but almost impossible. – You tell your story to anyone and they think it is invented, and there it is. For you there is nothing impossible. The truth is that I have confidence. The team is growing. If we get into the playoffs, I think we can be competitive in every game.

“These reasons that you explain make girls like Ana Tejada, formerly of Real Sociedad and the most recent signing, Esther González, many coaches, etc. go to play there.

Would Fran like to coach back in Europe one day? “Yes. I have come here to try to change the history of the club, as I have tried to do in all the clubs I have been in. We have clear objectives. One of them is playoffs. Furthermore, we have a spectacular stadium, but it is quite empty and we want to see it full. We are doing community work, but we want it to be much more, for there to be more engagement with the community.

“Once all those goals are met… My parents are getting older. I don’t see myself training here my whole life. At some point, I would like to return to Europe, to be closer to the family, but well, at the moment I’m not thinking about that because right now I am very comfortable here and I only think about trying to get into the playoff.

“As soon as we finish the league, think about what reinforcements we need for next year to do the same. I’m here for three years at least, that’s what I want to be here and then we’ll see how we’ve done it, how we are, if it’s renewed, if it’s not renewed… that doesn’t worry me right now, but it will in the future. In the future I would like to be closer to family. I’m not telling you in Spain, which could be, but it could also be in England or wherever I’ll be home in two hours.

“I love what I do. I love training, being on the field. With the national teams you have 10 days or 12 days a month with the team. But hey, you can experiment. Being in the Champions League was one of my dreams. The first year with Celtic, in the first game listening to the anthem… it was something I had dreamed of for many years.”

Celtic have always been linked to signing some of the best players in Europe over the decades.

There have been numerous stories about how players like Rivaldo were once linked to joining Celtic back in the Martin O’Neill era.

David Ginola was another who Tommy Burns tried to sign for Celtic before the Frenchman decided to join Newcastle United instead.

The point is, that some of the world’s best players have been tempted with a move to Paradise and former England international, Steve Bull, is another who now admits he had the opportunity to pull on the famous green and white Hoops.

Steve Bull’s bizarre reason for not joining Celtic

Famous for his exploits at Watford, at the height of his career, Steve Bull was an England international who represented his country at the Italia 90 World Cup.

The powerful striker was asked if he knew of any clubs who wanted to sign him during his career and Bull listed four clubs, including Celtic, as ones that were interested in securing his services.

Bull told the Undr the Cosh, “Yeah, I knew of four clubs who I could have gone to. Torino in Italy, after I came back from the World Cup, they wanted me and I just thought, ‘Well, I like my own English food, English beer. It’s not me’, and me being a local lad as well, you know what I mean?

“The second one that came in, you wouldn’t believe, was Newcastle. Newcastle before Andy Cole went from Man U. Dwight York and Cole, he was the second choice. The agent came around and said, do you want to come up there?

“I just had my first boy and I thought, I don’t want to disrupt it now. The third one that came in was Big Ron [Atkinson]. Big Ron came in from Coventry, but he offered me a five-year deal.

“And the last one I could have gone to was Celtic. Could have gone to Celtic and I’d said to Graham Turner [Wolves manager], ‘It’s too wet up there for me. No chance. I ain’t going up there, no way’. And that’s the four clubs I knew.

“The rest are just rumours and whatever.”

Celtic and Steve Bull

Bull played for Wolves between 1986 and 1999 and was prolific for the club scoring 306 goals in 561 appearances for the club.

His no-nonsense style earned Bull international recognition and he became one of only a few players in England’s history to be capped outside of the top-flight division.

26 Oct 1996: Steve Bull of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates his goal during a Nationwide League Division One match against Manchester City at Ma…

Bull earned 13 caps for his country despite never playing in the top tier of English football.

Could the Wolves legend have been a success at Celtic? Well, if the weather is the reason that put Bull off from joining a club with such high demands and pressure then you would have to assume no.

You would have to assume that the opportunity to join Celtic would have been towards the end of Bull’s career and there is no doubt he was an excellent striker, but would he have got in ahead of Henrik Larsson, Mark Viduka or even Shaun Maloney at that time?

Larsson? No chance. But as for the rest, I guess we will never know.

EX-CELTIC FAVOURITE IN STUNNING COMEBACK

CELTIC trio Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor and James Forrest have been included in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League games against Croatia and Portugal.

There is also a place for former Hoops favourite Craig Gordon, who, at 41, has won back the No.1 spot at Hearts.

It’s a stunning comeback by the keeper after suffering a double leg-break two seasons ago.

Gordon, a Celtic Invincible in 2016/17, last played for the Scots in the 2-2 friendly draw with Finland in June in what was expected to be his international farewell.

Coincidentally, future Hoops netminder Viljami Sinisalo, who joined the champions in a summer £1million switch from Aston Villa, was in goal for the Finns at Hampden.

Gordon’s inclusion means there is no place for his Tynecastle team-mate Zander Clark.

Boss Clarke, speaking to Sky Sports, explained: “I need three goalkeepers and what better than to bring Craig back.

“He’s the No 1 at Hearts, playing every week. Zander is obviously on the bench, Liam Kelly is on the bench at Rangers and Robby McCrorie is on the bench at Kilmarnock.

“Craig told me after the Finland game that it wasn’t a farewell and he’d see me in the future. He’s lived up to his promise.

“He has always shown he is up for the fight. He wants to play every week and he wants to play as much as he can for his country.”

Clarke has also given first call-ups to defenders Nicky Devlin (Aberdeen), Liam Lindsay (Preston) and midfielder Andy Irving (West Ham).

Out through injury are John McGinn, Scott McKenna and Tommy Conway while the international supremo has overlooked ex-Celt Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey, Lewis Ferguson and Nathan Patterson.

The team have lost five and drawn three of their last eight competitive fixtures, including Nations League defeats to Poland in Glasgow and a last-gasp goal from Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon.

The Scots are due to play Croatia away on Saturday October 12 and Portugal at Hampden three days later.

SCOTLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers:

Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Norwich), Jon McCracken (Dundee);

Defenders:

Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor (CELTIC), Nicky Devlin (Aberdeen), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Liam Lindsay (Preston), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers);

Midfielders:

James Forrest (CELTIC), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Ben Doak (Middlesbrough), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (West Ham), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls);

Forwards:

Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham City), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).

Green Brigade Pulls Off Late Surprise Ahead of Dortmund Clash

As Celtic gear up for tonight’s monumental Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund, the Green Brigade has pulled off a stunning surprise for the travelling Hoops fans. The famous Celtic ultras group has organised a tifo in the standing away section, ‘Block 61’, to make their presence felt in what promises to be a highly charged atmosphere.

With Dortmund’s legendary ‘Yellow Wall’ set to be in full force, the Green Brigade are determined to make sure Celtic’s travelling support is equally memorable. Thousands of Celtic fans have already descended on Germany, and with kick-off fast approaching at 8pm, the excitement is palpable. The atmosphere inside Signal Iduna Park is expected to be electric, and the Green Brigade’s display is sure to add to the spectacle.

Unmatched Celtic Support

This latest move by the ultras group is another example of Celtic’s unmatched support, both at home and away. The Hoops faithful are well-known for their vocal and visual backing, and tonight’s game will be no exception as the Green Brigade urges supporters to take part in their choreographed show of strength.

Celtic are well aware that they’ll need to be at their very best to secure any kind of result against a formidable Dortmund side. However, with the Green Brigade and thousands of fans behind them, the Bhoys will know they have strong support from the stands as they take on the German giants.

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Rangers – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – September 1, 2024 Celtic fans with a large banner inside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Fans in Block 61 have been encouraged to arrive early and get involved, with the group planning another visual display at the start of the second half. As the Green Brigade said in their statement, “If you go to Germany, you will see us there.”

Full statement from the Green Brigade:

“The Green Brigade has prepared a tifo for tonight’s match which covers ‘Block 61’ (Standing Section). We kindly ask for all fans in this area to take your place early and to use your material as the Celtic team enters the field and until the Champions League anthem finishes. There will be a further action at the start of the 2nd half and once again we ask fans in the same block for your participation. ‘If you go to Germany, you will see us there.’”

 

Bad blood makes way for warmth and respect as Rodgers and Sahin bury the hatchet ahead of Celtic’s Champions League blockbuster in Dortmund

Those seeking signs of tension between the managers of Celtic and Borussia Dortmund tonight will be looking in the wrong place.

The build-up to Celtic’s visit to the Signal Iduna Park has been dominated by some old quotes from Nuri Sahin thanking the almighty for the day he escaped Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool.

Tonight, the pair will reserve the hostilities for the field of play. While the forecasts predict heavy rain over Dortmund, the managers are keen to let water pass under the bridge.

A German-born Turkish international, Sahin was always a different kind of footballer. Fluent in five languages, the midfielder suffered a serious tendon injury in 2015. Warned by doctors that he might not play again, he began to plan for the future.

In 2018, he enrolled in Harvard Business School. Keen to learn about the lives of the less fortunate in Africa, he signed up to an initiative to open water wells in Ethiopia.

Blessed with a natural intelligence, he didn’t always use it as well as he might have. Sidelined by Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, youthful confidence convinced a 23-year-old Sahin that, in a head-to-head battle with Steven Gerrard, he could win.

Snatching the mic from Sinatra proved tougher than he thought. Rodgers moved him to a No 10 role — Jurgen Klopp described it more as a ‘nine and a half’ — in a vain attempt to shoehorn his talents into the team.

Shortly after moving back to Dortmund in a £7million deal, Sahin told a Spanish paper: ‘I did not fail at Liverpool. Brendan Rodgers wanted me to play as a No 10, but I do not play behind the strikers. Thank God I have left Brendan Rodgers.’

Twelve years have passed since then and Sahin is now the 36-year-old coach of Dortmund. Rodgers is back in his second spell at Celtic and, tonight, the two men meet again in the refashioned Westfalenstadion, content to let sleeping dogs lie.

‘Tomorrow, we meet again after 12 years and I’m really looking forward to this duel,’ said the Dortmund coach.

‘I don’t know what I said back in the days when I was young, but the only thing was for me that I played in a different position than I used to play.

‘The problem was that Steven Gerrard played in my position, so I had to adjust with my position, and this was the only thing. Everything else, I really enjoyed during my time at Liverpool. It’s a fantastic club and, under Brendan, I enjoyed every training session with him.

Rodgers and Sahin during happier times on Merseyside

‘It was very ball-oriented, ball possession and playing in the opponent’s half. I can only say good things about him and my time there.

‘The thing is, when you get a call from Dortmund, and you’re a Dortmund boy, you go back home. This was the only reason.’

Rodgers understood the reasons behind Sahin’s frustration in Liverpool, but welcomes the chance to meet his former player in competitive action. And the Parkhead boss suspects the Dortmund coach has more insight into the rationale employed 12 years ago.

‘I never get too emotional with words,’ says Rodgers. ‘I think that players and young players, they all want to play. I think, at that time when Nuri was at Liverpool, he had other players that were just ahead of him.

‘Unfortunately, at that time, I’d moved Steven Gerrard from a No 10 position into a deeper role. I also had Jordan Henderson — those two guys are among the greatest captains in the history of Liverpool — and that’s who Nuri was competing against.

‘I tried to put him into the team and play in some positions that probably didn’t quite suit him. I might have played him as No 10 when he was a deeper player but I had other players in those positions that were doing really well for me.

Across his time, he was a good guy. He loved his football, trained very well, was super professional and, of course, he left Liverpool and went back to Dortmund and I followed his career from there.

Rodgers followed Sahin’s career after he left Liverpool, with the pair now set to meet again

‘So, it’s great to see him. And now, moving into a management perspective, you know the challenges and he’ll start to understand that.

‘You get the likes of (Marcel) Sabitzer at the moment who wants to play central and he’s playing wide at Dortmund. So, all these little things come to you as a coach and a manager.’

Rodgers also signed Emre Can, Borussia Dortmund’s captain, for Liverpool and while the departures of Niclas Fullkrug, Mats Hummels and Jadon Sancho might be seen to have weakened the Dortmund team which lost to Real Madrid at Wembley in May, they remain a formidable proposition at home.

Ironically, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Rangers secured a memorable 4-2 win at the Signal Iduna en route to the Europa League final of 2022.

Since then, BvB have played 10 home games in Europe against Manchester City, Chelsea, PSG (twice), AC Milan, Newcastle, Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla and Copenhagen and haven’t lost any. The scale of the task facing Celtic, then, can’t be overstated.

There’s a school of thought that victory in the home games will be enough to secure a place in the play-off stage.

A 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava on the opening night left some wiggle room for back-to-back away trips to Dortmund and Europa League winners Atalanta.

Sahin was quick to insist that any discontent between the pair was now water under the bridge

Beat Young Boys and Club Brugge in Glasgow and progress would be tantalisingly close. Yet any repeat of the five and six-goal thrashings sustained in Madrid in the last two seasons would remove some gloss from the achievement.

In the last two seasons, Scotland’s champions have lost 19 goals in their six Champions League away games.

Their last away win in the competition was against Anderlecht in 2017 and, to succeed at this level, Rodgers needs to add a real streak of pragmatism to the truly swashbuckling football of recent weeks.

They need to do the dirty stuff a good deal better.

Asked why he thinks they can do it, Rodgers cited mindset, belief and experience, not all of it good.

‘I think we’ve also added some players that give us something in key areas of the pitch that you need,’ said the Celtic boss, before adding: ‘I will only know when I see it.

‘Domestically, we’ve done very, very well, but we want to see what the transfer looks like to this level.’

Celtic begin a huge week full of optimism, form, confidence, goals and depth in quality.

Brendan Rodgers has watched his Celtic side steamroll team after team during these early months, including putting six of the best past St Johnstone in Perth on Saturday evening.

Not only are the Bhoys scoring quality goals, but they are yet to concede in the Scottish Premiership this season.

When Rodgers replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer, it was a surprise and one that probably gained a mixed reaction.

On one hand, Celtic were losing a very popular man to Tottenham, and on the other, Rodgers’ manner of exit in his first spell didn’t go down well with the supporters.

Either way, the Irishman did what he does best and that’s deliver trophies, including the title and that incredible Scottish Cup final win.

But no one can argue that, during periods of that season, Rodgers’ style was being questioned and the performances weren’t at their free-flowing best.

Well, you can stop all that talk now and Neil McCann was keen to highlight that when analysing the team’s win over St Johnstone.

McCann stated that Celtic are breaking at ‘incredible speed’ and ‘they don’t mess about now’ after previous grumblings of ‘overpassing’ and ‘slow’ build-up play, as he told Sportscene.

All of this is a perfect platform for Celtic’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night, with McCann backing the champions to progress through to the knockout stages.

Celtic’s style of play under Brendan Rodgers

“There was talk when Brendan Rodgers come in that they overpassed and they were slow going forward,” said McCann.

“This Celtic side break at incredible speed and they don’t mess about now. They are so efficient going forward. St Johnstone will be disappointed, but you can’t have too much of a go at Andy Kirk, that is just a sensational Celtic team right now – that Celtic side can do that to anyone, let’s be honest.

“What I would say about Brendan Rodgers is that he feels really good about this group. I think he has been backed. He has brought in really, really nice players to compliment the ones that are already there. I think they are going to take some stopping domestically, but the good thing is, I think they have a real chance of going through in the Champions League as well with this new format. They look irresistible, at the moment.”

Brendan Rodgers will dominate again

In truth, Celtic continued to dominate when Rodgers left, so in that sense, nothing has changed, but there’s not much to doubt that he will continue it all again.

It’s just a case of how much can he dominate, from remaining unbeaten to winning the Treble, or all of it together.

One thing you can argue about is that the squad depth is as strong as it has ever been.

Adam Idah is still scoring and he is a bench player, at this moment in time, then there is Reo Hatate who was also on the bench against St Johnstone.

Cameron Carter-Vickers Celtic Return Timeline – Rodgers Weighs In

Brendan Rodgers confirmed on Monday evening that Celtic will be without key defender Cameron Carter-Vickers for their crucial Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund. The American international, a vital figure in Celtic’s defence, missed the last two domestic matches and did not travel with the squad to Germany.

Rodgers provided a squad update ahead of the game to Celtic TV: “No, mostly everyone is here. Cameron Carter-Vickers is not available, so we’ll see how he is going into next weekend, but he’s not here for this evening.” The absence of Carter-Vickers is a significant blow, particularly with the high stakes in the Chanpions League.

With Celtic playing Dortmund on Tuesday evening and then Ross County on Sunday before another international break, if Rodgers isn’t ruling Cameron out long term he could be back for the Aberdeen tie later in October.

In his place, new signing Auston Trusty, who joined from Sheffield United in a £6 million deal over the summer, is expected to continue in the starting XI. Trusty has already stepped up in the last two matches and has impressed Rodgers with his performances, making him the likely candidate to partner in central defence.

25th August 2024; St Mirren Park, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, Scottish Premiership Football, St Mirren versus Celtic; Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic beats Toyosi Olusanya of St Mirren to the ball

Rodgers acknowledged the importance of Carter-Vickers but emphasised the depth in the squad: “Clearly, he’s a top-class player for us. He’s missed a bit of Champions League football, I think five of the 12 games the club has played, unfortunately. But we have other players, and it’s always an opportunity for someone else to come in.”

The Celric manager urged his team to focus on a collective approach rather than worry about individual absences. “We can’t overthink it; we rely on the collective. There’s not one player that brings our results. Of course, he’s very important, but for us to get a result tomorrow, it will be about the collective.”

With Trusty set to continue in the heart of the defence alongside Liam Scales, the pressure will be on the new Bhoy to help Celtic contain Dortmund’s attack and maintain their hopes of progressing in Europe.

Celtic Star Absent From Dortmund Flight

Celtic could be facing a major setback ahead of their pivotal Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund, with defensive mainstay Cameron Carter-Vickers not spotted among the squad travelling to Germany. The influential American defender, who has been nursing a toe injury, has missed the past two fixtures.

Despite Brendan Rodgers expressing hope for his return, it now seems unlikely he will be available for the crucial match at the intimidating Westfalenstadion. Carter-Vickers has been an integral part of Celtic’s defence, with his commanding presence and leadership at the back sorely missed during his absence.

Soccer Football – Champions League – Celtic v Slovan Bratislava – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – September 18, 2024 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers before the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

His omission from the squad will be a significant blow to Rodgers’ hopes of shoring up the defence against a potent Dortmund side. The 26-year-old’s performances in Europe have made him a key figure in the Hoops’ quest to advance from the group stages, and his absence creates a substantial void.

Stepping up in his place is likely to be fellow American Auston Trusty, who impressed during Celtic’s dominant 6-0 victory over St Johnstone at the weekend. Trusty seamlessly partnered with Liam Scales in that match, and the pair are expected to form the heart of Celtic’s defence against Dortmund.

11th August 2024; Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic; Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic on the ball

Though Trusty has only recently joined the squad, his strong performance gives Rodgers some confidence heading into what will undoubtedly be a much sterner test.

Other defensive options, including Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki, remain available, though neither has established themselves as regular starters this season.

Given their limited game time, it seems unlikely Rodgers will risk throwing them into such a high-stakes encounter, especially considering Trusty’s more recent run of form.

Carter-Vickers’ absence will certainly be felt, but Rodgers will be counting on his reshuffled defence to rise to the occasion in Germany. With every point crucial in the Champions League, Celtic will need to deliver a disciplined and resilient performance to stand a chance against the German side.

Dortmund v Celtic: UEFA confirm card-happy ref for Champions League game

UEFA have confirmed their refereeing appointments for Celtic’s UEFA Champions League against Borussia Dortmund. After winning 5-1 in the opening game, Celtic will be looking to continue their momentum in Europe against the iconic Bundesliga outfit.

Spanish ref José Maria Sánchez will take charge of the game with José Naranjo and Iñigo Prieto assisting. Guillermo Cuadra will operate as Fourth Official.

Meanwhile, Carlos del Cerro Grande will be on VAR with Portuguese official Tiago Martins assisting him.

Sanchez boasts an unenviable record with regards to discipline, showing 62 yellow cards in his last ten matches, as well as four red cards. Fine margins can be found at this level but it is essential that Celtic show their discipline as it is paramount that it is 11v11. Celtic have the cleanest disciplinary record domestically but, as we know, there is a difference in the standard of refereeing.

Dortmund were Champions League Finalists back in June, narrowly losing to Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. Their side is undergoing a transition but it will prove to be an exciting game at Signal Iduna Park.

Celtic go into the game without central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who hasn’t travelled to Germany with the Scottish Champions. This means that the backline will likely be the same that started the win over St Johnstone at the weekend.

Match Preview: Borussia Dortmund Host Celtic in their UCL Home Opener

Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images

Between August 26, 2020 and November 28, 2023, Celtic recorded ten successive Champions League games without a win. That changed this year as the Bhoys recorded their first win in 4 years with an emphatic 5-1 result over Slovan Bratislava. Next, they’ll face Borussia Dortmund. Celtic’s Slovenian opponents may not be amongst the tournament’s elite teams but the Scottish club do have wind in their sails. They yet again lead the Scottish Premiership and, despite it only being September, look guaranteed to win. They have already recorded a perfect start with six wins, 20 goals scored, and 0 goals against. The game against Dortmund will arguably be the first elite opponent they face this season and Brendan Rodgers’ side will be keen to make an impression on the biggest stage.

Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, are a paper tiger. We have seen the club struggle and early signs suggest Sahin’s men are very beatable. The defense continues to be leaky while the attack lacks the firepower to fully compensate for the defensive struggles. Not all news is bad, however. Guirassy’s highly-touted move has proved fruitful with the striker notching four goals and two penalties won in his last four games. The squad is also navigating its busy scheduling without too many injuries as Giovanni Reyna should be the only player out of tomorrow’s match.

Dortmund currently sit fifth in the UCL table while their pot 3 opponent, Celtic, sit second. While its still early days in the new format, Dortmund should aim to win all four games against pot 3 & pot 4 teams.

Player to Watch: Callum McGregor

A cornerstone of Fear the Wall over the past decade has been spewing praise of Marco Reus. I like to think that some Celtic blog exists to spew praise about Callum McGregor. The 31-year-old Scotsman might not have the same flashy technical ability as Reus but has the same loyalty after eleven years at Celtic. He plays a more reserved role than the former Dortmund talisman but is a pivotal piece as Celtic’s metronome. McGregor will be looking to set the pace and link up Celtic’s attack. He plays well under pressure and fills the role of helping Celtic transition from defense to attack. It will be up to Dortmund’s midfield to stop him.

Expected Lineup: 4-2-3-1

I said this before last match and I will say it again—it is difficult to predict Dortmund’s lineups. This is not necessarily from the depth of talent but actually the lack of it and constant need to adjust everything. With injuries and rest in mind, I’m predicting something like this:

Kobel in goal as per usual with a rested Bensebaini alongside Anton, Süle, Couto. Ryerson went out with a knock against Bochum so he will hopefully sit out tomorrow’s match (Sorry, Zac). I have a feeling that Sahin will finally cave to Sabitzer’s demands and play the Austrian in midfield alongside Brandt and Groß. Gitten’s slight injury should be resolved but can open the door for Duranville to get his first start while Guirassy and Adeyemi continue their fine form.

Your Thoughts!

I will likely be watching this game with a few Scottish expats tomorrow so wish me luck. Oh, and give me your score predictions!

RAISE YOUR GAME! Rodgers urges Celtic team to go to next level in Dortmund … but they’ll have to do it without Carter-Vickers

Brendan Rodgers has challenged Celtic to take their game to the next level against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

On a run of nine straight victories in all competitions, the Scottish champions face their biggest test of the campaign so far against last season’s beaten finalists.

But they will head into the 80,000-capacity Signal Iduna Park without Cameron Carter-Vickers after the influential central defender succumbed to a toe injury.

After ten years without a victory in Europe’s elite competition, Celtic have now won their last two – against Slovan Bratislava last month and Feyenoord last December – and Rodgers has urged his players to show they are ready to step it up against the continent’s best teams.

‘For us, it’s looking to bring our game to the next level,’ said the Celtic boss.

‘I think how we’ve been performing, over probably the last six, seven months, has just been increasing.

The Scottish champions will expect a top performance from record signing Arne Engels

‘Now we’ve come to this level and we’re under no illusions. We’re playing against a team that are challenging at the very top end of elite football.

‘Whether it’s domestically, or whether it’s away in this competition, it’s (about) making us a really difficult team to play against – with and without the ball.

‘I’m not looking for perfection, I’m just looking for us to be really, really difficult to play against and give everything we have.

‘It’s the second of eight games. Whatever happens after this game, we’ll arrive back into the changing room and I still know that I’ve got a very good team, (one) that’s still got a lot of progression to make – but what a great test for us.

‘I’m very relaxed, but focused on (getting) a result that can build on the first game’s result.’

Kyogo Furuhashi has been identified as one of the main threats by Borussia Dortmund

Celtic will have to do so without Carter-Vickers, who missed much of last season’s Champions League campaign through injury. History now threatens to repeat itself after the US international failed to travel with the squad.

New £5million signing Auston Trusty deputised in Saturday’s 6-0 win over St Johnstone and will hold the fort while Carter-Vickers recovers.

‘Clearly he (Carter Vickers) is a top class player for us,’ said Rodgers. ‘He’s missed a little bit of Champions League football in his time.

Five of the 12 games that the club has played, he’s unfortunately not been able to play in. But, yes, we’ve got other players.

It’s always an opportunity for someone else to come in and hopefully we can get Cam back sooner rather than later.

‘But we can’t overthink it. We will rely on a collective. There’s not one player that brings our results and how we’ve been this season.

Of course, he’s a very important player. But, for us to get a result tomorrow evening, it will be by the collective.

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‘This level is as much about the head as it is about skill. Bringing that quality that we show domestically and being able to take it out into this amazing arena and playing with that confidence. And, if we can do that, we can be a really difficult team to play against tomorrow night.’

 

Celtic’s record-buy Arne Engels has exceeded expectations

Arne Engels (Image: Social Media)

Who says familiarity breeds contempt? Not for Arne Engels.

The Belgian international midfielder is living his best life since he joined Celtic. The £11 million man has taken to the club like the proverbial duck to water. Now he’s about to strut his stuff in an arena where he has previous experience. Engels made his Augsburg debut in a 4-3 thriller of a loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Signal Iduna Park Stadium. He knows his way around this venue.

The 21-year-old is not on any kind of revenge mission per se but he is aware that it is Champions League nights like this which made him put pen to paper for Celtic in the first place. Engels is adamant that Celtic won’t be overawed or intimidated by the famous ‘Yellow Wall’. Engels said: “It is amazing to be here as I played here a few times in my career with Augsburg.

“I made my debut here for Augsburg after arriving from the Second Division in Belgium. Playing in front of 80,000 was a great experience and it was a crazy game as it finished 4-3 to Borussia Dortmund. All my family was here for that one and it is an amazing stadium and the atmosphere will be electric and fantastic. I spoke to a lot of players about this atmosphere and the Yellow Wall but we also have an amazing atmosphere at Celtic Park which is kind of the same.

“If you can play at Celtic Park, you can play anywhere!”

Whilst Engels respects last season’s beaten Champions League finalists. There is genuine belief in the Celtic ranks that the Scottish champions can triumph on German soil. He said: “This is a good team that Celtic are playing. They play in a good league and we are well aware of that. I think this is going to be a great game. It is a strong opponent but we are also in a good way.

“It is good that I know the stadium but we know we have to perform and that is what we are doing very well at the moment. We are sticking to the basics and we are in a good place and good mood coming here. I think we have the belief in every game that we can win. If you don’t have the belief then you better not come here as you would be better off saying that it will be 5-0 to them. It is not like that. We want to come here and win but that applies to every competition in both the league and the cups. That is the mindset we have for every game.

“Everybody is really focused on their jobs and that makes us very strong as a team. Every day we are setting the standards for ourselves and doing a very good job with that. It is up to us to go out and show it like we do every week. We don’t want to make statements we just want to do our best in the competition. We just want to perform and we all need to be sharp. This is a nice bonus that I am playing in the Champions League with Celtic. It is not the only reason why I came here. I came here because this is an amazing club and the fans are excellent.

“It is nice to play in the Champions League and I hope we can do well.”

Engels admits that his time with Brendan Rodgers’ side thus far has exceeded his lofty expectations. He said: “It has been an amazing few weeks for me since I signed for Celtic. Everyone has been so nice to me and the people at the club, the manager, players and staff are helping me so much. It is a really good feeling for me.”

Engels sees the bigger picture at Celtic. So too does Rodgers. They both want Celtic to be competing regularly against elite-level clubs at the top table of European football.

That’s the kind of familiarity everybody craves down Glasgow’s east end.

Borussia Dortmund’s Pascal Groß: Dortmund’s ambition is to win games in a clearer fashion

Borussia Dortmund’s Pascal Groß discussed the club’s ambitions during the pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions League game against Celtic.

Club Brugge KV v Borussia Dortmund – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 / BSR Agency/GettyImages

Ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s clash with Celtic in the UEFA Champions League, head coach Nuri Şahin and German international Pascal Groß sat down for a pre-match press conference. During the press conference, Groß discussed a number of topics including Dortmund’s performances in the lead-up to this match, his excitement to be playing in the Champions League, as well as a possible coaching career after he retires.

In terms of Dortmund’s performances, Groß commented on the club’s ambitions to improve and work as a unit to achieve more favorable results on the pitch:

– Pascal Groß

So far, attacking and defending in unison has been a slight struggle for BVB as a whole, but Groß himself has been a model example of how the team as a whole should be working in cohesion in both attack and defense. Groß has contributed going forward with his keen eye for a pass, distributing the ball in an impressive manner to create chances from his deeper position on the pitch, while at the same time attending to defensive duties and pitching in when Dortmund are put under pressure by their opposition. This has not been the case for everyone in the squad yet, but per Groß’s words, it’s something that they seem to be working on rectifying.

With the game against Celtic on the horizon, and it being their second match of the Champions League campaign, Dortmund very much needs to find this cohesion so that they can get the required results. Dortmund’s current form has done little to dampen Groß’s mood ahead of the fixture however, with the German international expressing excitement ahead of the game, and crediting the fans and the home atmosphere they create for this excitement:

– Pascal Groß

Dortmund’s “Gelbe Wand” is always an asset for the club during home games, with the stand often being recognized as the club’s 12th man. Against Celtic, this will create quite the atmosphere as the traveling away fans are also likely to be deafening on account of the occasion.

On the field, Groß will very much be one of the critical players for Dortmund as he continues to dictate play from the center of the park. Groß’s importance doesn’t just come down to his skill as a footballer however, but also because of his propensity to evolve and learn as a player. His interest in the game may even see him pursue becoming a coach after he retires, per his own admission:

– Pascal Groß

For now, however, Groß is very much focused on the game against Celtic. His Dortmund journey has just begun and the club is certainly lucky to have such a talented and analytical player in their ranks helping to spearhead this new era under Nuri Şahin. As a player with a vast wealth of experience, we can rest assured that his contributions will be game-defining as Dortmund’s season contiUSMNT