Matt O’Riley tells Brighton ally why Celtic are just different as he has answer ready for the million dollar question

Matt O’Riley tells Brighton ally why Celtic are just different as he has answer ready for the million dollar question

O’Riley was asked if he missed Celtic and had an honest answer ready

Matt O’Riley reckons most people can’t even IMAGINE what it’s like to play for Celtic – let alone hack it under the Parkhead pressure.

And he made sure Brighton legend Glenn Murray knew it when he appeared on the club’s official podcast this week. O’Riley is off and running in the Premier League at last after an injury-hampered false start, and came off the bench to score the winner against Manchester City to sign off for the international break.

It was the first real return on his £25m transfer fee and he’ll be hoping for more moments like that now he’s finally motoring down south. His rise since joining Celtic from MK Dons for a bargain £1.5m almost three years ago has been startling and his two-and-a-half seasons at Parkhead certainly left their mark on O’Riley.

Speaking on the club’s regular podcast, hosted by broadcaster Paul Hayward and legendary frontman Murray, he was asked what it was like to play for Celtic and dominate Scottish football. And while the hosts might have expected an answer indicating the Premier League has been a step above, he said: “Respectfully, the pressures of playing at Celtic are for most people unimaginable. It is not easy to win every game of football regardless of who you are playing against.

“If you have 11 men behind the ball who are well-organised sometimes it is difficult to score. The longer the game goes on, the anxiety bulids up in the crowd. And you just need to learn to be able to accept that but also just somehow block it out and stay focused.

“To do that every single game is really tiring, you know – mentally and physically – to sustain it as well. Anyone who is able to play at Celtic for a long time, like James Forrest and Callum McGregor, to have that kind of relentless mentality .. it is genuinely tiring. I have so much respect for them to do it over and over again, 60 games a season.

Celtic player jokes he’s surprised manager hasn’t broken hand from slamming table

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has spoken to the Danish media about his thoughts on recently installed Denmark manager Brian Riemer.

Signed by Brendan Rodgers in the summer to replace Joe Hart, Schmeichel’s performances for Celtic have helped him keep hold of the No.1 jersey during the last two international breaks.

Speaking to Tipsbladet, the Celtic stopper was asked about the Riemer’s character after he played under the Dane whilst at Anderlecht.

Seen in the Danish media as a mellow manager, Schmeichel revealed Riemer can be hard with his players at times. The Celtic man said there were a few occasions at Anderlecht when the former Brentford coach would lose it with players if his instructions weren’t be followed.

“I remember several times that during breaks and after games, he spoke with big words. As a coach, you have to be able to do both, and he certainly can. There are a couple of times that I have not been able to understand that he has not broken his hand from slamming things,” said the Celtic keeper.

Schmeichel will be looking to win his 110^th cap when Denmark face Spain this week and will be hoping to replicate the form he’s shown since signing for Celtic in the summer.

The 38-year-old has let in just three goals in eleven league games this season and is also yet to concede in the UEFA Nations League.

Peter Lawwell likes to get bang for his buck and is known for digging his heels in during negotiations.

The chairman has a tight fist around his cash as Celtic fans have learned over the years.

When it comes to selling players, too, the experienced campaigner knows what it takes to get the best value for money and recent transfers such as Matt O’Riley, Jota and Kieran Tierney can attest.

So it was perhaps somewhat unexpected to hear that back in 2014/15 the 65-year-old had agreed to let one Hoops player leave on a free transfer.

And it was even more baffling to learn that the manager of the other club rejected the offer in the end. Only to wind up regretting doing so.

Former Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has recalled the moment his old club were offered the chance to sign Jackson Irvine from Parkhead on the cheap.

It came after then-manager Jackie McNamara had also opted against signing a young St Mirren talent by the name of John McGinn for a pittance for him to then become a Scotland and Premier League superstar via Hibs instead.

Not the best forward planning by the man now credited as agent to Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan and Ben Doak among others.

Dundee United rejected the chance to sign John McGinn and Jackson Irvine

Thompson blames McNamara for those big calls which would coincide with relegation from the Scottish Premiership the following year.

And he still questions whether or not those players could potentially have made a difference in the battle against the drop.

Speaking to BBC’s Off the Ball show, Thompson recalled: “I was sitting in a hotel with Peter Lawwell and Gordon Strachan and I got a call from a guy who works for me saying we had an offer of £60,000 in for John McGinn and do we want to up the bid?

“I said, ‘To what? About £150,000?’ But I needed to phone the manager. I told the manager, and he said no, we didn’t want him any more. So, I didn’t up the bid.

Jackie McNamara is Luke McCowan’s agent and took him to Celtic from Dundee

“At the same meeting, Peter Lawwell said we could have Jackson Irvine for a 30 percent sell-on and, again, I phoned up and it was, ‘No, we don’t want him.’

“This is the summer before we got relegated and Jackson Irvine is the captain of Australia now.

“There were a lot of decisions that happened that summer that defined us getting relegated that season.”

McNamara, a Celtic legend, had the Tangerines playing some sublime football during his time at Tannadice.

He did go on to lose Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven to Celtic in what came as a major blow to his hopes of building a strong United side and they would be relegated without the pair.

Matt O’Riley ‘misses’ Celtic as Brighton’s £30m man recalls ‘unimaginable’ experience

The midfielder marked his Premier League debut with a winner against champions Man City

Brighton star Matt O’Riley celebrates his winner against Man City (Image: Getty Images)

Matt O’Riley climbed off the bench to score the winner against Man City on his Premier League debut.

But Brighton’s £30million man admits he STILL misses life at Celtic. O’Riley capped a dream return from injury for the Seagulls at the weekend by netting the goal that condemned Pep Guardiola’s superstars to a fourth successive defeat. Competing against Europe’s elite every week is why O’Riley decided to call time on his trophy-laden two-and-a-half years in Glasgow in the summer.

And while the Denmark international has set his sights on making his mark in England after a nasty injury stunted his start at the Amex, the 23-year-old insists nothing will compare to the pressures of playing for the Hoops. So much so the playmaker works with a life coach to help improve his mental strength.

In an interview with Brighton’s official podcast, he said: “Respectfully, the pressures of playing at Celtic are for most people unimaginable. It is not easy to win every game of football regardless of who you are playing against. If you have got 11 men behind the ball who are well organised sometimes it is difficult to score.

“The longer the game goes on, the anxiety bulids up in the crowd. And you just need to learn to be able to accept that but also just somehow block it out and stay focused. To do that every single game is really tiring, you know – mentally and physically – to sustain it as well.

“Anyone who is able to play at Celtic for a long time, like James Forrest and Callum McGregor, to have that kind of relentless mentality .. it is genuinely tiring. I have so much respect for them to do it over and over again, 60 games a season.”

He said: “Of course [I could block it out] but I was also aware that whatever I did on the pitch contributed to so many fans’ happiness, you know. They are so mad up there. To the point that I know when they’re at their daily jobs they are having banter with their Rangers pals all week if the result isn’t good.

“I think for me as a player in terms of preparation to go somewhere else it is perfect just because the demand is so high. I really enjoyed the pressure of it, though, the responsibility of it. You really test your limits every single week, you’ve got to do it again and again and be better.

“If you don’t then they’ll let you know about it, the fans. It is only because they care so much. In that sense, that is why you don’t take it personally. They just care about their team doing well. “

Asked if he missed Glasgow, he said: “Yeah, a little bit. I miss the people, I think the people are really friendly up there, I grew up down south in London so I know what the people are like but people up north are super friendy which is quite nice.”

Now that the international break is in full swing, Celtic fans will already be looking forward to when the domestic football starts up again.

Watching their team return to the top of the table after Celtic’s win at Kilmarnock, it does seem as though the challenge of Aberdeen is set to run for a little bit longer after Jimmy Thelin’s men beat Dundee 4-1 on Saturday night.

Brendan Rodgers has a tough run of Celtic fixtures coming up when the international break is over with Hearts, Ross County and then Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

After Celtic left Rugby Park with a win yesterday, Robbie Savage pushed Chris Sutton on what he thinks of the Aberdeen challenge and whether or not they can hold up the current challenge to Celtic’s title.

Chris Sutton delivers title verdict amid strange pushing by Robbie Savage

Speaking after the match, an English football fan called Sutton’s show and said that it doesn’t look like anyone else in Scotland can win trophies apart from Celtic.

And when Sutton agreed with the caller is sparked this exchange with Savage.

Savage said on BBC 606 [23m], “Aberdeen. You’re ruling Aberdeen out, Chris?”

Sutton: “Hey, what do you want?”

Savage: “You’re ruling Aberdeen out?”

Sutton: “No, no. It’s a great story, Rob.”

Savage: “Anthony [caller to the show] just said, obviously, no one else is winning anything up there. and you said, ‘Yeah, good point’.

“So you ruled Aberdeen out?”

Sutton: “I think that Celtic will win the league.”

Savage: “Oh, so you’ve ruled Aberdeen out? You’re a huge fan of Scottish football, so you’ve just ruled Aberdeen out, yeah?”

Sutton: “Of the title race? I think there’s a title race on, Robbie, you have to respect teams, but I think Celtic will win it.”

Aberdeen’s next three fixtures before the visit of Celtic

With Celtic heading to Pittodrie on the 4th of December, Aberdeen also have another three fixtures to worry about before then.

A tricky away trip to St Mirren is their first fixture after the international break as the Paisley club sits in the Scottish Premiership table in 6th place.

Three days later, Thelin heads to Edinburgh to face a struggling Hibs who are bottom of the league and in desperate need of some points.

And then on the 1st of December, another visit to Edinburgh with Tynecastle on the cards offers another tough fixture for Aberdeen as Neil Critchley’s men look to climb from second bottom in the league.

Aberdeen have some tough games ahead of them and Celtic will be the last team on their minds because if they do want to sustain a title challenge, the Edinburgh clubs could pose a huge problem for them.

‘Reo Hatate guilty of serious foul play’ – Fifa expert on Celtic controversy

Keith Hackett has admitted he hopes that Martin Atkinson’s skillset will help improve the overall VAR performance in Scotland following a new controversy in the Celtic match against Kilmarnock.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett admitted the referee “should have been encouraged to go and see the monitor” during Celtic’s 2-0 win against Kilmarnock on Sunday (10 November) with Reo Hatate then being shown a red card.

There was controversy when Hatate’s late tackle was only met with a yellow card, despite the fact his studs were up as he caught his opponent without getting the ball.

The referee opted to award a yellow card and there was no review of the incident from VAR, which caused significant question marks over whether or not the system is being used correctly.

Atkinson will become the new Scottish FA’s VAR manager in December, which will potentially open up some changes in how things are done.

Atkinson takes plenty of Premier League experience with him north of the border, and that is set to come with some pressure to help alleviate the accusations that the ‘big two’ are favoured over other teams in the Scottish Premiership.

Martin Atkinson will be under pressure to improve VAR in Scotland

Hackett told Football Insider, “It’s a red card.

“I cannot understand why, even with VAR operating, they didn’t see this as serious foul play.

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“The player has come in from a yard, yard and a half, his boot is high and he’s not made any attempt to withdraw it.

“He’s clattered the player and this is serious foul play.

“I understand the referee being close up on it and that created a degree of problem, but it should have been reviewed by VAR and he should have had a red card, I’ve no doubt this is a red card offence.

“I look at each individual incident and this player should have gone, he didn’t and it’s a clear error.

“In recent days, we’ve seen the announcement that Martin Atkinson, a long-standing Premier League referee, will now become the VAR manager in Scotland.

“Let’s hope he can add his skillset to improving the VAR performance.

“The VAR should have come in on this one, and the referee should have been encouraged to go and see the monitor.”

In other news, Rangers senior figure quits as new Ibrox hire made – official paperwork filed.

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Aston Villa chances of Champions League progress ranked after defeat amid Celtic and Liverpool wins

Defeat in Belgium last week has had ramifications on Aston Villa’s predicted finish in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.

Aston Villa are no longer being predicted to finish in the top eight of the Champions League following their defeat to Club Brugge.

The Villains suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Belgian side at the Jan Breydel Stadium last Wednesday. Tyrone Mings was penalised for a handball and Hans Vanaken made the most of it by scoring from the spot in the 52nd minute.

The latest league table has Villa still inside the top eight, ahead of Atalanta by a point. Villa are now halfway through the league phase, and are the second best performing English club following Liverpool’s 4-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen.

Manchester City suffered a shock defeat to Sporting in what was Ruben Amorim‘s penultimate match before he takes up the job at their inter-city rivals Manchester United. Arsenal were also on the losing side during their travels, as they lost 1-0 to Inter Milan at the San Siro, courtesy of a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty.

Nicolas Kuhn scored a brace for Celtic as they ran out 3-1 winners against Leipzig. They should join Aston Villa in the knockouts of the Champions League. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic had a good night though as they 3-1 against RB Leipzig. Nicolas Kuhn scored a first-half brace after Christoph Baumgartner had given the visitors the lead. Reo Hatate made sure of the victory and now there’s a feeling of optimism around Celtic Park.

After the latest round of results, Villa are now longer predicted to finish in the top eight, which would give them a bye. According to Foot Rankings with information provided by Piotr Klimek, they are now tipped to finish 12th, with Arsenal finishing ahead of them. They would advance to the knockout phase play-offs as a seeded team if the predictions are right.

Their position of 12th has them just behind Bayern Munich, but ahead of 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid who are the current holders. Villa are also being tipped to finish ahead of Italian giants Juventus and perennial French title winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Aston Villa have been given a 33.1% chance of finishing in the Top Eight, a 75.6% chance of finishing in the top 26, and then a 99.4% probability of finishing at least in the top 24, which would prolong their involvement in UEFA’s main club competition.

Predicted final Champions League table

xPts. XGD. Top8. Top 16. Top 24.

Liverpool – 20.01. 13.17. 94.5%. 99.6%. 99.9%

Inter – 18.18. 10.61. 83.7%. 98.2%. 99.9%

Sporting CP – 16.85. 9.16. 65.9%. 94.1%. 99.9%

Borussia Dortmund – 16.56. 10.68. 64.0%. 93.8%. 99.9%

Barcelona – 16.34. 13.06. 63.0%. 92.6%. 99.9%

Manchester City – 15.71. 12.45. 57.8%. 90.9%. 99.8%

Atalanta – 15.59. 9.26. 48.3%. 89.7%. 99.8%

Arsenal – 15.49. 7.87. 46.9%. 87.4%. 99.6%

—————————————————————-

AC Milan – 15.50. 7.45. 45.2%. 87.1%. 99.4%

Bayer Leverkusen – 15.16. 6.26. 38.8%. 83.2%. 99.4%

Bayern Munich – 14.75. 10.88. 36.7%. 83.0%. 99.4%

Aston Villa – 14.89. 5.71. 33.1%. 75.6%. 99.4%

Stade Brestois – 14.48. 3.94. 24.4%. 70.1%. 99.6%.

AS Monaco – 14.44. 3.62. 24.1%. 70.3%. 99.5%.

Atletico Madrid – 13.52. 0.19. 11.6%. 51.1%. 95.4%

Lille – 13.16. 2.15. 11.0%. 51.7%. 95.9%

Celtic – 13.34. 1.22. 12.0%. 50.7%. 94.2%

Real Madrid – 12.83. 4.88. 10.3%. 47.5%. 96.1%

Juventus – 12.80. 2.44. 11.1%. 46.9%. 92.%

PSV – 12.25. 5.20. 7.3%. 41.6%. 91.8%

Stuttgart – 12.39. 2.45. 5.2%. 41.7%. 92.4%

Benfica – 10.78. 0.825. 2.5%. 19.1%. 75.6%

PSG – 10.17. -0.79. 1.2%. 13.5%. 66.1%

Feyenoord – 10.51. -5.36. 0.6% 9.5%. 63.4%

—————————————————————-

Dinamo Zagreb – 9.72. -7.79. 0.5%. 5.8%. 50.0%

Club Brugge – 9.19. -6.86. 0.2%. 4.0%. 40.8%

Sparta Praha – 6.93. -7.73. 0.1%. 0.7%. 15.1%

Girona – 6.71. -7.25. 0.0%. 0.4%. 13.3%

Leipzig – 5.74. -4.91. 0.0%. 0.0%. 8.8%

Bologna – 5.37. -7.07. 0.0%. 0.0%. 8.8%.

Shakhtar Donetsk – 5.72. – 11.03. 0.0%. 0.1%. 3.9%

Salzburg – 4.66. -15.75. 0.0%. 0.0%. 1.2%

Crvena zvezda – 2.95. -17.00. 0.0%. 0.0%. 0.6%

Sturm Graz – 2.39. -11.57. 0.0%. 0.0%. 0.0%. 0.3%

Young Boys – 2.69. -15.96. 0.0%. 0.0%. 0.3%

Slovan Bratislava – 0.92. -24.40. 0.0%. 0.0%. 0.1%.

Heartwarming message from Tony Mowbray as ex-Celtic boss looks for management return

Celtic’s manager, Tony Mowbray watches his team play against Hamburg during their UEFA Europa League, Group C, football match at Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, on October 22, 2009. Photo GRAHAM STUART/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has issued a heartwarming message about the importance of family after a horrible year. The experienced manager was diagnosed with bowel cancer, which prompted a surprise departure from Birmingham City.

In a clip that was posted on Twitter/X, Mowbray spoke about his family have supported him through this ordeal, while offering some comic relief.

This message from Tony Mowbray is as lovely as it is important.

He’s always struck me as one of the most likeable and humble people in the game; hopefully he’s back working soon. ❤️

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 11, 2024

Mowbray confessed his love for chocolate while in the middle of a press conference with Sunderland, not realising that the cameras were rolling. The 60-year-old will be keen to get back into football but he is doing it at his pace, not wanting to overdo it.

Mowbray made 94 appearances for Celtic as a player from 1991 to 1995. He was a central defender and even captained the team during his tenure. Mowbray joined Celtic from Middlesbrough and became known for his leadership and solid defensive performances. He left an indelible mark on the club by introducing The Huddle to the club’s prematch routine. After leaving Celtic, he continued his playing career at Ipswich Town before eventually moving into management.

Mowbray was appointed Celtic manager in 2009, replacing Gordon Strachan. The experienced manager had helped West Brom to the Premier League but failed to really make an impact at Celtic, despite some free-flowing football. After a 4-0 defeat at St Mirren, Mowbray parted ways with Celtic but has always spoken positively about being Celtic manager.

Celtic have changed their fortunes around in the Champions League.

It wasn’t so long ago that Celtic’s morale was on the floor and Brendan Rodgers was being heavily criticised again.

To be fair, Celtic’s 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund still stings, but it has proven to be a blessing in disguise because it has brought something out of the players.

Go back to the draw at Atalanta, how the team defended was a joy to behold because Rodgers had shown a side many had never seen from his team before in Europe.

And then, under the lights of Parkhead, the Bhoys produced a masterclass against RB Leipzig to prove to the world that they have many gears to their game.

There aren’t many teams who can match Celtic on European nights, it’s perhaps the best atmosphere out there.

And James McFadden shared what he was telling people before the Leipzig match.

James McFadden labels Celtic Park’s Champions League atmosphere as ‘mental’

It’s the halfway stage of the Champions League and Rodgers has four more games to deal with in Europe’s elite competition.

Celtic fans eviscerated by ex FIFA supremo for ‘desecrating’ Remembrance minute’s silence – ‘The meaning is being lost’

Jim Boyce hasn’t held back on the Hoops’ supporters who caused controversy at Rugby Park

Former vice-president of FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has hit out at Celtic fans for interrupting the minute’s silence against Kilmarnock.

The actions of away supporters at Rugby Park has dominated the headlines post-match after Killie the Hoops joined clubs across the country in holding a minute of contemplation ahead of kick-off for Remembrance Day. However, the tribute was disrupted by singing and booing from sections of the Hoops’ support forcing referee Nick Walsh to bring the silence to a close after just nine seconds before starting the Scottish Premiership clash.

And former Cliftonville chairman Boyce – who is ex-FIFA President and Honorary Life member of the Association – has called out the Celtic support for their actions before the game. He told the Belfast Telegraph: “It’s very sad that in this day and age we still have people who can’t respect a minute of silence no matter what it’s for.

“It’s very sad we haven’t moved on. From when I was a child, Remembrance Day was to remember the people who lost their lives in two world wars. People are now trying to make it out to be something it shouldn’t be.

“I think the real meaning of Remembrance Day is being lost by many people. Desecrate people from this whole island of Ireland, irrespective of whether they were Protestant, Catholic or anything else, lost their lives in world wars. And what saddens me is a lot of that meaning has been taken out of it.”

Sky Sports reporter says Premier League clubs make contact over standout Celtic star

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has said that two Premier League clubs have made enquiries over Nicolas Kühn’s availability. The German winger has been a standout this season, catching the eye in the recent Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

Taking to Twitter/X, Plettenberg has stated that Brentford and Fulham are monitoring the situation of Kühn.

🚨🆕 Fulham and Brentford have already inquired about Nicolas #Kühn and are monitoring his situation.

This season, the winger has scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists across all competitions for #Celtic. Most recently, he impressed with strong performance in a 3-1 victory…

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal)

Celtic are unwilling to entertain any bids for Kühn, especially given he’s under contract under 2029. The club will look to continue developing the player before moving him on for a sizeable fee.

Kühn has scored ten goals and assisted on eleven occasions in 17 appearances so far this season. The £3m arrival from Rapid Vienna struggled to hit the ground, scoring 3 goals in 18 appearances. It later emerged that Kühn had suffered from a dental issue, which had impacted upon his ability to really kick on in the early stages of his Celtic career.

The 24-year-old has been Celtic’s standout this season, which is saying something as the level of performance across the first team has been excellent. Kühn has made the right winger role his own, working well with Alistair Johnston on the right and creating chances in attack.

Celtic transfer interest in €5m striker emerges again as Hoops send scouts to run the rule over Euro club’s talents

Celtic have gone into the international break on the back of a win

Celtic have been credited with an interest in Brondby attacker Mathias Kvistgaarden and have sent scouts to watch him in action, according to a report by Tipsbladet. The Scottish Premiership side have been linked with a move for the forward again ahead of the January transfer window.

The Hoops have the chance to bolster their ranks this winter ahead of the second-half of the season. They are currently sat at the top of the Scottish Premiership table level on points with Aberdeen following their 2-0 away win at Kilmarnock over the weekend and are nine points ahead of Rangers in 3rd.

Celtic could see Kvistgaarden, who is valued at €5million on Transfermarkt, as someone to add more competition and depth to their attacking department. They have a couple of players at their disposal in his position already such as Adam Idah and Kyogo Furuhashi as they chase down another title under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.

Kvistgaarden has been in fine form for Brondby so far in this campaign and has scored 12 goals in 19 games in all competitions, nine of which have come in the league. At the age of 22, he would be a useful long-term addition for the Hoops if they were able to land his signature.

The Denmark youth international played for Skjold Birkerød and Lyngby before joining his current club in 2015. He has since become a key player and they will face a battle to keep hold of him with the way things are going.

Pundit Alan Hutton said earlier this year, as per Football Insider: “You’re always looking for different options – we know what Kyogo brings and what they had with players like Adam Idah. They’ve tried different avenues and different profiles – and I think that’s what you need, and it’s what clubs are always searching for, something different.

“To bring in someone like [Kvistgaarden] is ideal for them, but paying that sort of money, you’re hoping he’s going to be an absolute star. Let’s not kid ourselves, up in Scotland that’s a huge fee, so they’d be putting a lot of faith in him. But every squad needs these ‘different’ types of players and I believe he fits that bill.”

When asked about Celtic’s links to him over the summer, Kvistgaarden said: “Well, I’ve read the headlines. I’ve read the same headlines as you – you’ve probably made some of them. I didn’t read the articles. They just popped up when I scrolled through social media.

“So I couldn’t avoid seeing that occasionally there was a picture of me, and then something about Celtic. A couple of years ago I was bad at that. Back then, I read a lot about what was written about me. I’ve gotten much better at letting it go. It doesn’t help me to read such things.
He added: “The dream is obviously to go abroad at some point. It’s every player’s dream, but it’s not something I want to talk about now. I’m sitting here in a Brøndby jersey and have a season to play. So it doesn’t bother me at all

“It would be an extra bonus for me, having come all the way from the youth department. This club has created me as a football player, so there is no doubt that I would like to repay them with a good transfer fee.”

See Bad News for Adam Idah

Celtic forward Adam Idah has withdrawn from international duty with Ireland after sustaining a facial injury in Sunday’s match against Kilmarnock. The 22-year-old was initially set to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad on Monday but informed the FAI that he would not be available due to the injury.

The incident occurred during Celtic’s 2-0 win at Rugby Park, where Idah took a heavy elbow to the face, resulting in a nosebleed and requiring significant treatment on the pitch. Though Idah managed to finish out the game until being subbed for Kyogo Furuhashi, the knock appeared severe enough for him to reconsider playing through the pain for Ireland’s upcoming fixtures.

10th November 2024; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Adam Idah of Celtic bleeding from his nose on the pitch after a collision with Kyle Vassell of Kilmarnock

Celtic’s Hectic Fixture List

With Celtic’s fixture list packed following this final international break of the year, it seems likely that the striker is prioritising his club duties. The injury, if limited to his face, could see Idah return to the lineup in time for Celtic’s clash against Hearts on 23rd November.

The Hoops went on to secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock, courtesy of goals from captain Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn. Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to have Idah fit and ready to go for the busy weeks ahead, as Celtic look to maintain momentum across domestic and European fronts — not to mention a Glasgow Derby Cup final.

The dreaded international break is upon us as Celtic go into storage for a week or so.

A number of key first-team stars will leave Lennoxtown to meet up with their international squads this weekend with the Nations League back in action.

Other players including Japanese trio Kyogo, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate will also be in action outwith the European competition but supporters will have the same feelings heading into the break.

Punters will have their fingers and toes crossed that the players involved with their countries will head off and then come back to the fold injury free.

There are massive fixtures for the club on the horizon in the Champions League as well as in next month’s Premier Sports Cup Final and the New Year derby match.

Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images

That’s why Brendan Rodgers and the fans will hope to have a clean bill of health even after the break.

One player who won’t be heading away with his nation having had to pull out due to injury is striker Adam Idah.

The Republic of Ireland international seemingly picked up a knock in his side’s 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and he had to go off to be replaced by Kyogo.

Adam Idah withdraws from Republic of Ireland squad with injury

And now the Irish FA has confirmed the striker won’t travel for the clashes with Finland and England this coming weekend.

Idah put in a solid shift against Kilmarnock as his side won 2-0 at Rugby Park and he was a pest all afternoon.

The big attacker cost the club a previous record fee of £9.5million when he signed from Norwich City earlier this year.

Squad update | A trio of changes as Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy & Adam Idah are ruled out of the squad through injury

Ryan Manning, Jake O’Brien & Matt Doherty all join up for our two UEFA Nations League fixtures 🇮🇪

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 11, 2024

Idah’s Celtic goal scoring record since his £9.5million summer move

It came after a strong loan stint last term where he hit nine goals throughout his 19 appearances since January.

He has been reduced to coming off the bench in most games this campaign so far and has notched five goals thus far from 15 games including one against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.

His crowning moment in a Celtic jersey came in last season’s Scottish Cup Final vs Rangers where he hit the late winner and he has earned 29 caps for his country.

Swiss Ramble has pored over Ibrox financial results which were rounded on by concerned onlookers

A leading football finance expert has lamented Rangers‘ inability to “run a tight ship” like their Scottish Premiership rivals as he seized upon the club’s sobering £17.3m pre-tax loss.

The Swiss Ramble has pored over financial results which were rounded on by concerned onlookers when they were released last month. And his biggest concern centres around the size of the loss compared to their peers. Rangers’ losses were £13m more than second worst Hearts – who aim to arrest their £4.4m deficit.

The revered expert underlined the scale of the task they face in unseating Celtic as the dominant force in Scottish football as he pointed to Celtic’s iron-clad £17.8m profit which leaves an eye-watering £35m difference between the fierce Premiership rivals. Rangers interim chairman John Gilligan is attempting to offer stability, however, fans’ concerns have escalated with Philippe Clement’s side sitting nine points adrift of Celtic and Aberdeen.

The top table at last year’s AGM

Both the club and manager have hinted at a correction at Ibrox to move on from older players and usher in a new era of younger talent. And that has been noted by the Swiss Ramble. He said: “Rangers are clearly making efforts to get their cost base under control, as wages reduced by £3m (4%) from £64m to £61m, while player amortisation fell £2m (14%) to £11m. However, they did book £2.9m player impairment, while other expenses climbed £4m (13%) to £32m.”

The under-fire board and Clement will meet their public at the club’s AGM on Thursday, December 5 with shareholders demanding answers over a litany of outstanding questions. Those who bleed Light Blue want answers on the direction of the club, who the next permanent chairman will be and when will James Bisgrove’s CEO role be filled.

Celtic had a very busy summer transfer window with record fees smashed left and right.

Adam Idah arrived for more than £9million while Arne Engels beat that a few days later in a deal worth around £11million to the club.

7 Best Footballers OUTSIDE Europe’s Big 5 Leagues

It was a sign for supporters that Brendan Rodgers had finally, seemingly, got through to the money-men at Parkhead and convinced them to speculate to accumulate.

There were no fewer than eight signings made – including Alex Valle on loan from Barcelona – and the recruitment team had been busy keeping on top of their main targets.

Paul Tisdale is now in the door as head of football operations and his primary role will involve identifying talent for the Hoops to target and he has just over a month to get his feet under the desk before the January window rolls around.

Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images

There is one player already on the shortlist – or should we say BACK on the list – having previously been targeted.

67 Hail Hail understands Celtic have had a representative at a handful of Brondby fixtures this season already with Mathias Kvistgaarden the main man being watched.

The Danish striker has been a target for the club for over a year with approaches made last season.

Celts submitted a bid of around £4million for the player but that was kicked into touch.

And with his form significantly improving this term – with 13 goals and five assists in just 20 outings this campaign so far – the attacker’s price tag has sky-rocketed.

Mathias Kvistgaarden asking price as Celtic scout transfer target numerous times in person

We understand that Brondby are looking for between €12m-15m for their star man who is still contracted until 2027. The Danish outfit made it clear they valued him highly last year.

The Glasgow giants are not the only club sniffing around Kvistgaarden. Atalanta of Serie A, Celtic’s Champions League foes, have also been in attendance to watch the striker.

Eintracht Frankfurt have also taken in some of his matches.

Kvistgaarden is believed to be on the cusp of a full international call-up with Denmark.

What Kvistgaarden has said about his Brondby future

Speaking to Danish outlet Campo, Kvistgaarden admitted previously when asked about the prospect of trying his luck in another European league: “There is no doubt about that.

“I think I have shown myself in a lot of ways, which means that I have shown that I can hopefully also play internationally at some point.”

“I am a soccer player. I meet here around 8:30. So I’m hired to play soccer. And then there are a lot of others who are employed to do what they are employed to do.”

Roy Keane turns Celtic party pooper as ‘fantastic’ Champions League moment blasted after Parkhead ‘madness’

The Man Utd icon was running the rule over a moment in a Celtic clash at Parkhead.

A brilliant Celtic moment in the Champions League has not won the full approval of Roy Keane.

The Man Utd icon and ex-Hoops midfielder was one of the onlookers last week as Brendan Rodgers’ side beat RB Leipzig 3-1. But he and ex-Man Utd, Everton and West Ham boss David Moyes took different views to the second goal of the night for Celtic.

They pressed Leipzig into submission, eventually winning the ball back near the 18-yard line before Nicolas Kuhn eventually converted a cutback. It moves them onto seven points from four games in the revamped league phase of the competition.

It seems as though the Bhoys had a few interesting parties watching on in the form of David Moyes and Roy Keane, as they discussed the match. While Moyes was left impressed by the rate of Celtic’s pressing, Keane was disappointed with how Leipzig lost the ball near their own box. The pair had the debate via The Overlap. Read their thoughts below

Keane: “I don’t think anyone has a problem with Manchester City doing it because they are brilliant at it. But when you see the other teams, and getting caught! You obviously lose it high up the pitch and then some teams, you are in on goal. That’s the issue I have.

“If teams can do it, then I love it. But, for me, the madness. You must come in as a staff on Monday morning and go ‘lad’s we lost again’. Someone must go, ‘Why do we keep playing out from the back when we get caught constantly and you are constantly under pressure.”

Moyes: “A lot will depend on the quality of players. I watched Celtic and I thought the players they had, several of them Japanese players, were fantastic at their pressing.”

Keane: “Weren’t they encouraged though by the opposition? That would be my point. Encouraged by the opposition taking the ball, a minute before half-time and they are giving the ball away. They are trying to beat players literally on the edge of the box. They lose a goal. it’s madness. Absolute madness.”

Rangers star opens up on return after club dispute as Alan Shearer turns fan of record-breaking Celtic hero

The latest headlines with some Rangers and Celtic flavourings.

Rangers and Celtic were both in Premiership action over the weekend.

First up it was Kilmarnock at Rugby Park for the latter, as both sides played TV games on Sunday. They weren’t at their best but did enough to win thanks to goals from Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn.

It was then the turn of Rangers to try and reduce an already daunting 12-point gap Celtic have built. They did that with a 1-0 win but Cyriel Dessers’ sole goal handing victory did not please fans, who shared frustrations throughout the match,

Here are the latest headlines surrounding that have some flavourings from the Glasgow pair.

Hagi’s return

Ianis Hagi has opened up on his return to the Rangers team. He is now back part of Philippe Clement’s plans after a loan at Alaves in Spain last season, and a contract dispute that prohibited him from taking part in senior matches.

The Romanian playmaker told Rangers TV: “Well it was definitely different. Starting from the city, the country, weather. Just everything was different. I enjoyed my time in Spain just because I appreciate a lot how they think about football and how they coach you.

“But at the same time I found it quite hard to adapt to the mentality of not winning every single game and the day-to-day mentality which was definitely tough. With all due respect I think there’s different type of people out there, different type of football mentalities out there which people enjoy more, less you know, in different environments.

“At the age of 26, I’ve actually found a lot about myself up until now and I know what I enjoy and I know what environments make me a better person, a better player. I’m in a moment where I’ve discovered myself quite a lot and I just I’m really happy that I’m back. I missed everything about Rangers so, yeah, it’s just good to be back.”

Shearer a Celtic hero fan

Alan Shearer was left made up for Celtic hero Matt O’Riley at the weekend. After a record-breaking £30m move in the summer from Parkhead – the most expensive Scottish transfer – he suffered a long-term ankle debut on his debut in the Carabao Cup vs Crawley Town.

He made his Premier League bow on Saturday following that, scoring the winner against Man City. Newcastle United and England legend Shearer said on Match of the Day: “What a moment for Matt O’Riley, he got injured very early in his Brighton career. He got his goal and can celebrate with the fans.”

“It was a brilliant win for us. It was never going to be like last Saturday or Tuesday,” Brendan Rodgers

Nicolas Kuhn scores Celtic’s second goal against Kilmarnock. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media at Rugby Park after Celtic’s 2-0 win over a battling Kilmarnock side that sent Celtic back to the top of the league heading into the International break. Here’s what the Celtic manager was asked and how he responded…

Rodgers hails Schmeichel’s effort to block Kilmarnock scoring

Brendan Rodgers at Rugby Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star.

Q: What did you think of the team’s performance and result today?

Brendan Rodgers: “It was a brilliant win for us. It was never going to be like last Saturday or Tuesday. You know, Kilmarnock and what they do. They do it exceptionally well. They are very direct. They get it forward. You’ve got to fight and for that, the players deserve a huge amount of credit because they showed another side to the team. I am so pleased. As I said, it’s a pressure game that Kilmarnock play and if you can’t stand up to it and you’re not strong enough and win you’re duels as a team, then you can come unstuck. So, it was a fantastic win for us.”

Greg Taylor in action at Rugby Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Q: You talk about showing the other side of you. It’s a pressure game out there. When you win games like that, can it be just as rewarding for you as a manager, or a group of players, as the big wins on Tuesday night?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, because it’s still a game of football and I think the supporters want to see you stand up and be counted in games like that. The players did that very well.”

Q: Is that a game that maybe 12 months ago you wouldn’t have won?

Brendan Rodgers: “We would have suffered more. I think that we did lose them. That was the reality. We lost in that first six-month period. Now I think you see the difference in the team and the structure and the togetherness, the spirit, everything that you need to win a game like that because you come off the back of two absolutely brilliant wins. You’ve got to come here. It’s not going to be all about the football as much as you want it to be. It wasn’t, but it showed another side to our game, which is very important to have.”

Nicolas Kuhn scores Celtic’s second goal against Kilmarnock. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Q: They say goal wins matches, defence wins titles. You’ve got Nicolas Kuhn up top, you’ve got Kasper Schmeichel at the back. They were two big, important players for you today, weren’t they?

Brendan Rodgers: “Aye, Kasper made some great saves. You could see him with the ball as well, how he could play through the pressure, which is important. At times we could have held it up better to allow us to join in more. He was tested and had to make saves. I know that’s what he’s world-class at. His shot-stopping is unbelievable. So he was a big reference for us. The first goal came at a really good time for us. In the second half, we know that the next goal is important. Nic does what he’s done well. I think the goal itself was great because Cal comes into space that we like him when there’s pressure on the back line. That frees up Ali to get his touch, plays into depth and then Nicholas’s touch finish. space was so, so good. He was actually more annoyed. he missed the other one before it. That was when I spoke to him afterwards. He’s now starting to get numbers to his game and that was key for us.”

Nicolas Kuhn celebrates with Callum McGregor. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Q: That’s 21 goal contributions, 10 goals and 11 assists they are incredible numbers, aren’t they?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s absolutely brilliant but that’s his job. That’s why the money’s in his bank every month. He makes that contribution and he’s been so good.”

Q: Is there a better player in the country right now than Nicholas?

Brendan Rodgers: “There are lots of really good players in the country but I think I’m only focused on what he’s doing for Celtic. He’s doing so well.”

Q: How pleased were you with the game management of your players after that second goal?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, well we had to manage it and break the game up a little bit. I just think naturally how it was as well. So then you’ve got to change the rhythm of the game and slow it down and at times look after the ball. It’s still when you don’t have it, it was coming direct. So you have to deal with that pressure. I thought how he dealt with it was so, so good. I wasn’t a great football guest. I wasn’t like Tuesday night or last week but that’s OK. It takes all different types. But you have to be able to play those different types of games and thankfully this team has come away with a great victory in that type of game.”

Brendan Rodgers at Rugby Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star.

Q: Just in general how would you assess where the team is at this stage of the season?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think we’re in a really good place. I said to the players before the game that in life it’s really all about staying on your path. Sometimes that can be difficult but by staying on it you get your rewards in the end. I think this team is just consistently staying on the path, learning, developing, improving and playing some amazing football but also having the dig and the bite that you need to keep clean sheets. So I think we’re in a really good place. We have a little break now. Come back to the absolute ultramarathon spell where every single player will be needed. But it’s so exciting. I think that some of the play that we’ve seen, some of the fight that we’ve had today, I’m so pleased with that.”

Q: Ultramarathon? Is that the way you see it?

Brendan Rodgers: “Ultramarathon? There’s your headline. No, I think it is. Just look at the games between now and February. There is no rest. There’s no breather but we’re fit and ready for it. We’ll keep working, and keep developing the players. I think that’s what’s key. The games are great and the wins and everything but it’s developing the individual player because I always say it’s the individual to get better and then by a consequence, the team improves. So we’ll keep working on that. Lots of the players are going to get lots of game time over the course of the coming months and we will need it.”

Adam Idah celebrates the opener, which was scored by Callum McGregor. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: You did it on Tuesday and you did it on Sunday in terms of scoring just before half-time. How important is that for controlling the narrative of the game?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, it doesn’t change the narrative so much but it gives a different feel. It’s a challenge because either way you go in, okay it was 0-0, 1-0. We know the things we’ll have to do in the second half to win the game. Of course when Kilmarnock put so much into the game and physically put everything into it and then you’re still behind, then that’s a challenge. No, I thought it was a great time to score. We’re always alive from the first minute to the last, always looking to attack the game when we can. And we had a few little moments in that first half where we settled the game and nearly got in. Obviously, then we get a bit of fortune for the first goal. But it was always going to take another goal to settle the game for us.”

Celtic players after the game at Rugby Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star.

Q: You’re talking about progression and development and the team winning football matches and important ones as well. How enjoyable is this for you as a manager and your time as a career?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s a great spell. I think everything from the adversity from last year, you’ve got to get through that, which we did do. And then we can settle and progress and develop. But I’ve seen it really from the first day of pre-season. I’ve seen it all map out. The key thing as the manager is always to make sure that the inner voice in the team is strong and the players then get on to the pitch, they’re there to learn and develop and then just continue with that sequence. It’s not just about one or two games, it’s that consistency So I think the players have been absolutely amazing. What physically they’ve given to games, how they’re coping with games and getting the results ultimately. We’re performing to a high level. Then today, like I said, we had to show a different side. It’s a great group to work with but it’s still early. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

Celtic fans protest at Rugby Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star.

Q: Derek McInnes has spoken about the protest for the minute silence before the game. Do you have a thought on that at all?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I think if it’s a minute of silence it should be a minute. That’s the reality of it. I think you guys know the script up here at this time of the year. It’s always a challenge but if it’s a minute silence, it’s a minute silence. I think we all want to respect that and we all understand that some don’t. So it can be a divisive one. I understand. But my chat is really for the football and that’s something else that’s outside of that, sadly.”

Celtic messed up with Rodgers flop who earned as much as Matt O’Riley

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers endured a busy summer transfer window at Parkhead for the second year in succession, since his return to Glasgow.

After replacing Ange Postecoglou in the dugout in 2023, the Northern Irish head coach had to deal with Jota and Carl Starfelt moving on, to Al Ittihad and Celta Vigo respectively, as well as Aaron Mooy deciding to retire.

The board did back him with a host of new signings, though, including the likes of Luis Palma, Paulo Bernardo, Maik Nawrocki, and Hyun-jun Yang, among others.

Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah were also brought in during the January transfer window to bolster the attack, and the former has registered 12 goals and 13 assists in 34 games for Celtic to date.

This summer, Rodgers was dealt another blow as attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley was sold to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, where he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City down south on Saturday.

It was a big blow to lose the Denmark international from the squad during the summer transfer window, because of his form for the club in the 2023/24 campaign.

Matt O’Riley’s form for Celtic last season

After Postecoglou moved on from Parkhead, Rodgers came in and helped O’Riley to find his best form at the top end of the pitch from a central midfield position.

In the 2022/23 campaign under the Australian boss, the Danish wizard only found the back of the net three times in 38 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, which shows that he was not a reliable scorer for the Hoops.

Rodgers found a way, with his 4-3-3 system, to get the left-footed ace more involved in the game in the final third, with O’Riley going from 1.8 shots per game to 2.9 shots per game in the Premiership.

The 23-year-old magician ended the 2023/24 campaign with a staggering return of 18 goals in 37 appearances in the division, 15 more than he managed in the previous season.

This shows that the Northern Irish boss unearthed a superstar by unlocking the midfielder’s goalscoring potential, whilst O’Riley also provided the team with 13 assists in the Premiership.

23/24 Premiership

Matt O’Riley

Squad rank

Sofascore rating

7.91

1st

Goals

18

1st

Assists

13

1st

Big chances created

14

1st

Key passes per game

2.5

1st

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international was the star of the show for the Scottish giants in the top-flight last season under Rodgers, with his ability to score goals, assist his teammates, and create high-quality opportunities.

Celtic got incredible value for money out of the central midfielder, who was sold to Brighton for more than £25m this summer, when you consider that he reportedly was only on £14k-per-week, the 14th-highest in the squad.

However, his performances whilst earning £14k-per-week also shined a light on how much of a blunder the signing of Gustaf Lagerbielke was for the Hoops.

How much Celtic paid for Gustaf Lagerbielke

In the summer of 2023, during Rodgers’ first transfer window back at the club, the Celtic head coach dipped into the market to bolster his options at the heart of the defence, following the departure of Starfelt to LaLiga.

Maik Nawrocki was brought in from Legia Warsaw and the club also swooped to sign Lagerbielke from Swedish side Elfsborg for a reported fee of £3m, as well as signing him to a wage of £14k-per-week – as much as O’Riley last season.

The young, right-footed, centre-back was brought in to compete for a starting position alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back for the Hoops, after Starfelt’s exit left a hole on the left side of the defence.

In the 2022/23 campaign under Postecoglou, the now-Celta Vigo star made 28 appearances in the Premiership and won 67% of his duels and completed 92% of his passes for the Scottish giants.

2023 Allsvenskan

Gustaf Lagerbielke

Appearances

16

Pass accuracy

81%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

Ground duel success rate

53%

Aerial duel success rate

64%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Lagerbielke had made 16 appearances in the Swedish top-flight in 2023 before his move to Celtic but had matched Starfelt’s showings for Celtic.

The Swedish titan won a lower percentage of his duels in comparison to the former Hoops colossus and completed a much lower percentage of his attempted passes.

Celtic’s Gustaf Lagerbielke blunder

The 24-year-old flop failed to convince Rodgers that he had the quality or consistency to play week-in-week-out for Celtic in the Premiership last season.

He ended the 2023/24 campaign with seven appearances and four starts in the Premiership, as Stephen Welsh, Nawrocki, Liam Scales, and Carter-Vickers all played more games in the division at centre-back.

This shows that Lagerbielke was the fifth-choice option out of the manager’s central defenders, which may not be what the aim for him was when the club decided to spend £3m and £14k-per-week in wages on him.

Celtic’s best player, certainly from an attacking perspective, earned £14k-per-week but the Hoops did not get anywhere near the same value from the central defender for the same price.

In the 2023/24 season, Lagerbielke, who was sent off against Feyenoord in the Champions League, made ten appearances and started six times in all competitions for the club, having cost £3.7m in transfer fees and wages – over £600k per start, which is why he has been a flop.

He was then sent out on loan to FC Twente in the Eredivise by Rodgers, who brought in Auston Trusty from Sheffield United on a permanent deal this summer, ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

This showed that the manager did not trust him to be an option for him in the first-team this term, whilst the addition of Trusty is potentially an admission that the Swedish flop does not have a future at Parkhead – as he has already been replaced.

Lagerbielke is yet to start a league game for Twente, coming off the bench three times so far, and it currently looks unlikely that Celtic will make much of the £3.7m they have spent on him so far back, which means that the club have messed up and had a howler with the defender.

Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership table on Sunday by beating Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Only 24 hours before, Aberdeen continued their outstanding start to the season by putting four goals past Dundee.

After 11 matches, Jimmy Thelin’s side are neck and neck with the champions and, as of this moment, they are showing everyone that they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

But Brendan Rodgers’ side did what they do best and that’s return to the top of the table.

Celtic’s win over Kilmarnock wasn’t easy and the manager did make some changes to his XI following the gruelling, yet satisfying week for his side.

It all started with that semi-final thrashing of Aberdeen, before Celtic put on a show against RB Leipzig and, understandably so, that took a toll on the legs.

That’s why players like Adam Idah came into the XI, but he didn’t put in the performance he would have liked.

James McFadden critical of Adam Idah’s performance as Celtic beat Kilmarnock

The great thing about this Celtic side is that the competition for places is growing and there is some serious quality on the bench.

Even those from the Rangers side are scared of Celtic’s bench strength, but Idah couldn’t show it on a difficult afternoon against Killie.

McFadden highlighted what the player was doing wrong and how he was almost taking ‘four touches’ at times just to control the ball.

The former midfielder added that, when Idah tried to lay the ball off the first time, that didn’t work either and it was a poor performance overall, as he told Sky Sports Football (10/11/24 at 4:00 pm).

“It can happen,” says McFadden on Celtic struggling after the performance against Leipzig.

“I think they struggled because it worked before with Idah. They can beat the press, play up to Idah and he holds it in, and then they play from there.

“He’s not been able to hold it in. His touch has been poor. He has taken three or four (touches) just to get it under control. He’s trying to lay things off the first time and it isn’t working, so it stops Celtic from getting forward, in that sense.”

Idah’s stats for Celtic against Kilmarnock

There is no doubt that Kyogo Furuhashi is the main man for Celtic and he will play in the big games.

But that doesn’t mean Rodgers won’t turn to Idah because he did fairly well during that goalless draw against Atalanta in the Champions League.

The difficult nature of playing at such a high level is that, as soon as your performance drops, it is felt and it can be seen.

Brentford eyeing up move for £25m-rated Celtic attacker as replacement for Liverpool-linked Bryan Mbeumo