Our insider believes that the Hoops gaffer’s assertion that he is “more ready than ever” for Europe’s elite will face its toughest test yet!
By that point, he had approved Lagerbielke’s loan move to the Netherlands and spent six million pounds to acquire American center-back Auston Trusty from Sheffield United in the final days of the transfer window. Now, Brendan needs solid proof that he made the right choice in letting Lagerbielke go, especially as Trusty must rise to the psychological demands that Lagerbielke managed against Erik Ten Hag’s side on Wednesday night.The urgency of this assessment becomes even more critical if Cameron Carter-Vickers, who missed the match against St. Johnstone, is unable to play against last season’s losing Champions League finalists in Germany. I would argue that the absence of Carter-Vickers could be pivotal to the match’s outcome, as Trusty has never faced an examination of his abilities at this exalted level.
Ever since this season’s Champions League draw was announced, I’ve believed that four home wins for Celtic was a real possibility, just as much as I see the potential for four defeats on the road. If that scenario unfolds, then qualifying for the next phase of the competition would become, with analytics all the rage these days, a data-driven certainty.
However, it wouldn’t be easy to watch—or sit comfortably with—if Celtic were routinely handed heavy defeats in their away matches, starting with Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday night. The reputational damage inflicted during the Premier Sports Cup tie against Falkirk, which they eventually won, must have had Brendan Rodgers constantly scribbling names in his pocket notebook, developing a kind of repetitive strain syndrome from clicking his pen on and off, noting down those who were underperforming.
Alex Valle? Barcelona may be his parent club, but he struggles defensively. Trusty? His name suggests reliability, but he looks worryingly unsteady at first glance. Anthony Ralston and Stephen Welsh? Let’s move on. Maik Nawrocki? He cost millions but can’t get a game ahead of Welsh. Luis Palma? He doesn’t
The goal in Germany is to secure a commendable result that maintains the bubble of positivity generated by their domestic performances thus far. There should be no objection to this assessment. Historically, foreign soil has been a barren landscape for Celtic in the Champions League, but their home ground offers the potential for growth and success.
On that basis, Cameron Carter-Vickers becomes just as crucial as Arne Engels in the match against Dortmund. When the defensive mainstay is on the pitch, there’s a sense of security at the back. However, in his absence—like in last Sunday’s game—there’s a tendency for nervous anxiety to creep in. It’s one thing to be tentative and error-prone against Falkirk, with all due respect to manager John McGlynn.But being jittery in Germany is an entirely different situation.