HOOPS HAVE A GET OUT OF JAIL LEIGH CARD
McGarvey: Celtic won’t suffer if Moussa goes because Griffiths can shoot them through the Champions League qualifiers all over again
For me, Griffiths is the best centre forward in Scotland FRANK McGARVEY
LEIGH GRIFFITHS has twice fired Celtic through the Champions League qualifiers.
So as far as Frank McGarvey’s concerned, it won’t matter if Moussa Dembele is sold and Odsonne Edouard isn’t ready for this term’s showdowns because the Scotland hero will be there to come up trumps again.
Griffiths hasn’t always been Brendan Rodgers’ first-pick striker.
Former Hoops hitman McGarvey admits that would rankle with him if he was in the same boat.
But, when it comes to the qualifiers to get Rodgers in amongst the elite of the continent for the past two seasons, Griffiths has been instrumental in the progression.
Two years ago when the manager walked in the door, the little striker almost single-handedly fired the bullets to push the Hoops through. Four goals in four games against Astana and Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the final two rounds were pivotal in Celtic making the groups two seasons ago. Last term, in the two play-off ties against Astana, Griffiths again gave the Kazakhs a tough time with a goal in each leg as Rodgers and his team made it back to the Promised Land. Now, as the Hoops go for three in a row, there is uncertainty over who will be around to lead the line. Dembele is attracting massive interest from England and across Europe and the French kid could be the subject of a big-money transfer before or during the qualifying run. Rodgers is expected to capture Edouard from PSG on a permanent contract in the coming weeks, but, again, nothing has been signed. Griffiths, though, will definitely be around. Back in his usual place to take on the responsibility. That’s good enough for McGarvey to have confidence ahead of the eightgame qualification marathon.
He said: “For me, Griffiths is the best centre forward in Scotland. He’s exceptional.
“Dembele is a terrific player on his day as well but I’m a huge fan of Griffiths.
“Edouard is another player who has shown what he is capable of last season after signing on loan from PSG. “But Griffiths was very hard done by having to be third choice behind them. “It’s a sign of his maturity that he has been able to accept the situation. “He seems to have his head screwed on now.” The biggest criticism against Griffiths when it comes to Europe is his supposed lack of physique. While Dembele and Edouard have raw power to go with their ability, the Scotland star’s biggest attributes are pace and movement.
McGarvey, though, doesn’t see an issue and said: “If you look at Celtic’s history, it’s the smaller strikers who have been most successful.
“I don’t think size should come into the equation and his pedigree is not in question.”
If McGarvey does have a problem going into the qualifiers, it’s at the other end of the pitch.
He said: “They leak too many goals. Celtic have never really invested in good defenders, apart from the Martin O’Neill era. “Look what happened then? They reached a European final. “It is all about having a good scouting system. Before Liverpool signed me they had me watched 17 times. That’s how professional they were when buying players. “They always got the best ones and that’s what you have to do. “There are players out there just waiting to be signed. “Eight games to qualify for Europe is a tough ask when you have to do that before the league season has properly started. “There is a worry if you come through them then you will start to tire before Christmas. “It is very hard for players to continue at that top level of fitness throughout a season. But, I think Celtic now have to do something in Europe.
“It is okay winning a league which is average at best but I always judge the quality of a country by how well teams do in Europe.
And last season not one of our teams made it into the Europa League sections.
“We are now being dragged down to Luxembourg and Gibraltar’s level.
“Celtic are doing well in a very poor league so I would like to see the board spend big and try to so something in Europe.”