Celtic's European Struggles Highlighted Ahead of Crucial Celta Vigo Clash
Assistant manager Shaun Maloney addresses the team's contrasting form between domestic and European competitions, emphasizing the need for improved defensive structure.
Celtic faces a critical Europa League fixture against Celta Vigo, with the team under scrutiny for their inconsistent performances, particularly in European competition.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has characterized the team as 'flat-track bullies,' suggesting they perform well against lesser domestic opposition but falter on the European stage. This sentiment resonates with many supporters who expect a club with Celtic's European tradition to make a more significant impact in continental tournaments. While acknowledging the difficulty of progressing in the Champions League against top leagues, there's a belief that Celtic could achieve more in European competitions.
Two years after competing in the Champions League, Celtic finds itself struggling in the Europa League, sitting low in its group standings after back-to-back losses to Ferencvaros and Benfica. A victory against Celta Vigo is considered essential for any hopes of advancing to the knockout round.
Despite recent European struggles, the squad's performance in a dominant 7-1 victory against Hearts suggests considerable quality exists. The team has shown flashes of potential, including a strong second half against Benfica, but a lack of consistency, particularly without the ball, has been a recurring issue. Assistant manager Shaun Maloney stressed the importance of addressing these structural defensive issues and ensuring full commitment from all players.
"We definitely have to figure out a few of the structural things in terms of being without the ball, what suits this team and all the players within it and then just a full commitment from everyone to defend," Maloney said. "I think we’ve got really talented players as, I think, the weekend shows, and the second half against Benfica."
Maloney refuted the idea that player commitment or work rate is the sole issue, emphasizing that coaches also have a role to play in finding better solutions on the pitch. He highlighted that the team has demonstrated it can be effective, citing periods in games against Motherwell and Hearts where their performance without the ball resembled that of previous successful seasons.
Questions have also arisen regarding the team's tactical identity, with some debate about the extent of manager Martin O'Neill's influence given his coaching staff's younger age. Maloney firmly dismissed these suggestions, stating that O'Neill leads all aspects of the club, including recruitment, team selection, and tactics.
"I think anyone that’s written or said that, I don’t think they’ve ever worked with Martin," Maloney stated. "I have no idea why somebody would say that. If they came and watched us each day, Martin leads everything - recruitment, team selection, tactical."
The upcoming match against Celta Vigo carries significant weight, as the team aims to secure points and ensure qualification for the latter stages of the competition. Maloney acknowledged the importance of home games in determining the team's European fate, recalling the historical significance of past European campaigns.
