CELTIC’S miserable night in Malmo threw up more questions than it answered.
Certainly, we now know the Scottish champions won’t be competing in the Champions League proper this year. Likewise, that the failure to reach the group stages will cost the club some £20m in lost revenue, and the kudos of playing against Real Madrid and PSG in the group stage. But it is where this leaves the central figures moving forward that is unclear and more than a little intriguing. Make no mistake, performances are now being reviewed right across the board. None more so than Ronny Deila’s. I should make it clear at the outset, I don’t think Celtic were actually as bad against Malmo over the two legs as some people are claiming. They failed to take their chances, with Leigh Griffiths a main offender. They also lost bad goals. Four across the two ties were, in my opinion, badly defended. But they did create opportunities home and away, and Nir Bitton’s disallowed goal in the return in Sweden should have stood. What is concerning for me and I am sure for Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell as well are is the tactical mistakes that were made. When they went 2-0 up early on in Glasgow, Celtic should have looked to tighten things up and close the game down. And having subsequently conceded a goal to Jo Inge Berget, they certainly should have learned their lesson and made sure they saw it out at 3-1. There was a naivety about their display which showed up Deila’s lack of Champions League experience.
Be brave and win in Tbilisi on Friday as I believe we can and Gordon Strachan’s side will be on course for automatic qualification. After a difficult week, that would be precisely the tonic Scottish football needs right now.
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