After a hectic trio of matches last week, marked by mixed performances and results, this international break couldn’t have come at a better time for Celtic. It offers the perfect opportunity for Brendan Rodgers and his squad to hit the reset button and regroup ahead of a crucial stretch of the season. Will the break be the turning point they need to regain momentum? Fans are hoping for a refreshed and reinvigorated team!
However, the challenge ramps up immediately after the international break, with Celtic facing a grueling schedule of seven games in just three weeks. So far this season, the team has played two midweek Champions League fixtures with contrasting outcomes, but it’s the third fixture in the weekly lineup—against the likes of Falkirk and Ross County—that has raised some concern given the subpar performances in those matches. Can Brendan Rodgers’ side find consistency in this relentless run of games, or will the packed schedule expose cracks in the team’s form?
It’s been somewhat surprising that in both of those matches—against Falkirk and Ross County—Celtic found themselves trailing at half-time. In both cases, the team had to rely heavily on the bench to turn things around and secure the required and desired results. This raises questions about the starting lineup’s consistency and whether Rodgers can afford to keep depending on late-game heroics as the fixtures pile up. Will Celtic’s depth be enough to carry them through this challenging period, or will their slow starts come back to haunt them?
In the first round of three games in a week, Celtic enjoyed the advantage of playing all their matches at Celtic Park. However, last week’s second round saw all three fixtures played away—in Perth, Dortmund, and Dingwall. The stark comparison lies in how much Celtic struggled in the third match of both sequences. Whether at home or away, the performance levels noticeably dropped by the third game, raising concerns about the team’s ability to maintain consistency and energy across such tight schedules. Can Rodgers find a solution to prevent these late-week dips as Celtic head into an even more demanding period?
After the international break, Celtic are set to face an even tougher challenge with three midweek matches, including two pivotal Champions League fixtures against Atalanta and Leipzig. What makes the schedule even more daunting is that the weekend games following these midweek clashes are against Motherwell at Fir Park, Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden, and Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
It’s no surprise that the SPFL’s “super computer” has served up such a grueling fixture list, especially with reduced preparation time due to the Champions League commitments. Will Celtic be able to navigate this intense period and maintain their form across both domestic and European fronts? The pressure is on for Rodgers and his squad.