NEED FOR NEW SIGNINGS LAID BARE:
Rodgers’ need for new faces laid bare as his Hoops face latest deal that’s still to be done
THIS is another deal which isn’t close to completion.
In fact, unless Celtic come up with something special at the next set of negotiations in Greece on Tuesday, the transfer to the Champions League group stage will be off.
Against a backdrop of agitated comments from Brendan Rodgers about a lack of quality arrivals in the market, the reasons why he wanted provisions in place by now were laid bare last night at Parkhead. This is what he must have feared. After two successful passages to the Promised Land they are now in big trouble. Staring at an exit.
Held by an AEK Athens side who, despite a lack of competitive action beforehand and going down to 10 men, had enough solidity and threat to dig out a draw which makes them big favourites to go through.
Some will say more quality was needed. Others that the quality at Celtic’s disposal just didn’t produce enough on the night.
Whatever way you view it, it’s looking dodgy. Callum McGregor’s magnificent opener put them in control yet the concession of a vital away goal is a hammer blow.
Celtic controlled the second period but didn’t get the winner and now face a huge challenge in Athens with Kristoffer Ajer’s booking and suspension for that tie an added issue.
Rodgers has never lost a qualifying round tie since taking charge but the odds are stacked against him.
Celtic are now the underdogs. Their hopes hanging by a thread after a contest that started so positively and ended with the type of frustration Rodgers had to face the day before.
The Green Brigade had a message for UEFA before kick-off about their harsh qualifying set-up, unfurling a banner which read: “Champions League? You’re having a laugh.”
But no one was laughing in a mood of stress and tension.
The early stages were always going to be important as AEK had to overcome rust with their league season not under way for another fortnight and just four friendly matches under their belt.
The Greeks also had a new coach, Marinos Ouzounidis, and were going to have to survive a tough opening as Celtic went for the throat.
Rodgers’s team didn’t disappoint in that regard with the left flank an initial source of great joy.
McGregor and Kieran Tierney had plenty of success early doors, with both whipping balls into the box, the former had a shot saved and the latter almost won a penalty when tripped right on the edge following a thrusting run. James Forrest and Tom Rogic also had shots blocked.
It was a beginning which promised much for the hosts and when the reward came it was from that source.
Tierney’s deflected cross took a nick before it dropped to McGregor but the rest was breathtaking.
Instant touch to turn and open a shooting opportunity and a lethal first-time finish with his left foot into the bottom corner. It was another big goal from a big occasion boy and it gave Celtic a crucial platform.
The Greeks wanted to play on the counter attack. It made for the odd dangerous situation but their option to sit off gave Celtic time to build and try to add to their advantage.
But the longer it ticked towards interval the more signs began to grow something bad could happen. That AEK were edging into it.
Although they hadn’t piled forward at regular intervals they had shown enough in their touch and movement to warn the home team.
A driving run and fierce shot from Athens wideman Helder Lopes, which required a tip over from Craig Gordon, was testament to that fact.
It was a warning and two minutes from the break the killer moment finally arrived.
Full-back Mikael Lustig looked to have a situation under control in the
right-back area but AEK ace Niklas Hult wouldn’t give it up and managed to whip a ball into the box.
Rodgers had opted to jettison Croatian stopper Jozo Simunovic and instead go with youngsters Kristoffer Ajer and Jack Hendry at the centre of defence and, although there were a handful of moments of concern beforehand, it had been manageable to that point.
But right there the pair were fatally caught cold. On their heels. Almost shocked that the ball had been delivered.
The alert Viktor Klonaridis was ready and he took an instant touch in splendid isolation before rifling beyond Gordon. It was a brutal blow, both in timing and style. Rodgers preached the need for a clean sheet but it was gone.
Referee Luca Banti’s spray bottle burst at the beginning of the second period and the lid was coming off Celtic’s aspirations.
The mood swung again after a red card for AEK man Konstantinos Galanopoulos who took a second yellow for clipping Forrest.
It had reached critical time. Ajer’s booking was a blow yet Celtic suddenly had a man advantage with 30 minutes left against a tiring team and had to try and make it count. Rodgers sensed the urgency. The tiring Rogic made way for Leigh Griffiths as the Hoops manager realised the need for a goal – and AEK were wilting.
The tackles became lunges, the blocks more desperate, yet they defended with their lives.
Griffiths gave a spark. Fired a free-kick at the target, just failed to spring the offside when driving for goal and flashed a near-post header over the crossbar from Forrest’s dangerous cross.
But it ebbed away. Ntcham had a shot over in a final flurry but there was no winner and Celtic now face some job to close this deal because AEK hold the cards.