Despite a string of defeats, including two in the Europa League group stage and two domestic derbies, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill maintains a defiant stance, asserting that he can identify positive developments within the team. The club's recent performances have highlighted significant challenges, particularly in defense and forward areas.
In their latest Europa League outing, Celtic conceded four goals, a scoreline that arguably did not fully reflect Benfica's dominance. The Portuguese side created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match and struck the woodwork twice in addition to their goals. Celtic's defensive vulnerabilities were again apparent due to the absence of the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers, with Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni and Duran frequently troubling the visitors' back line.
The forward positions present a considerable dilemma for O'Neill. Club record signing Kasper Hogh was substituted at halftime and has struggled to find the net, failing to score in 10 of his first 11 appearances since his summer transfer from Bodo/Glimt. Duran, who shifted to a more central role in the second half, proved more impactful than his Danish teammate.
Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan commented on the forward options, suggesting that a creative midfielder would prefer to play with Duran over Hogh. Allan noted Duran's tendency to exploit space and anticipate play in the penalty area, contrasting this with Hogh's current form. "Hogh just isn't firing on all cylinders. I can take that if he's doing the other side of the game a lot better than he is," Allan stated, adding that Celtic's attack appeared more potent after Hogh's substitution.
O'Neill acknowledged that he views Duran as more effective playing through the middle, though he also noted Duran's previous experience playing wide. "It's now a matter of us trying to fit him in and I think we can do that. It's a real battle for places now," O'Neill said post-match. However, given Hogh's significant transfer fee, O'Neill may hesitate to remove him from the starting lineup entirely.