The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Sloppy Celts’ brutal lesson
Parkhead: Sinclair says real Bhoys failed to turn up against classy PSG
Scott Sinclair admits Celtic failed to give a true reflection of their capabilities as they were torn apart by Paris St Germain.
Celtic suffered a brutal lesson from Unai Emery’s expensively assembled outfit on Tuesday night as the Hoops slumped to a 5-0 defeat in their opening Champions League game.
While many have pointed to the riches available to PSG to justify the merciless nature of the beating dished out by their superstar frontline of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani, wideman Sinclair believes Celtic should have still been able to put up more of a fight.
But the former Swansea and Manchester City player confessed the Hoops’ sloppy start left them on the back foot as their French opponents swarmed forward.
“It was really disappointing,” said the Englishman. “The first half an hour we started off really poorly as a team.
“In the second, we came back a little bit more lively and created some half chances but the result was so disappointing.
“The way we started was not how we normally start games and it showed.
“The way they came forward forced our attacking players to defend more than we are used to. Me and Patrick Roberts had to get right back and sit in. We tried to counter but sometimes the passes were loose.
“The manager wasn’t happy at half-time. He said that wasn’t us.
“When we went out in the second half we created a bit more and tidied up a bit with some of the passes – but that’s all we could have done.”
Celtic have reigned supreme domestically since Brendan Rodgers took over last year but were simply no match for the Parisians.
Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani all netted during a ruthless first-half onslaught, with Mikael Lustig’s own goal and a classy diving header from Cavani late on confirming the club’s heaviest home defeat in 122 years.
It will not ease the pain being felt by the Celtic support but Sinclair believes there is mitigation for the result in the fact Emery’s men look well capable of beating the cream of European football to the Champions League crown.
“They are up there,” said Sinclair. “You saw the quality of players they have and the amount of money they spent. I’m sure they will be looking to win the competition.”
Celtic’s next Group B appointment sees them travel to Anderlecht in a fortnight and defeat by the Belgians would leave their hopes of progression hanging by a thread.
Sinclair said: “Every game you play in the Champions League has pressure. You just need to keep bouncing on, so we’ll put this one to bed and move on.”
“The manager wasn’t happy at half-time. He said that wasn’t us”
Celtic are facing disciplinary action from Uefa after a supporter charged on to the Parkhead pitch to confront Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
European football’s governing body has confirmed it has opened proceedings against the club for the incident that soured Tuesday’s match.
Hoops supporter John Hatton appeared in court on Wednesday to admit invading the pitch and assaulting former Monaco frontman Mbappe by attempting to kick him. Hatton pleaded guilty to assault and section one of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act (2012) which relates to behaviour “likely to incite public disorder”.
On a difficult evening that saw the Scottish champions thrashed 5-0 – with Mbappe among the big-spending French club’s scorers – the unsavoury incident only added to Celtic’s woes. Celtic have been charged with a count of “field invasion” and will have their case heard by the Uefa control, ethics and disciplinary body on October 19.
PSG have also been charged after their supporters were accused of breaking seats at Celtic Park and will have their matter addressed at the same hearing as Celtic. Police Scotland made seven arrests at the match.