Morale-booster for Hoops but questions remain unanswered
THERE are still more questions than answers about the Celtic team despite a morale-boosting win over Wolfsburg.
The victory in Brendan Rodgers’ first home match as Hoops manager was badly needed after the humiliating defeat by Gibraltar minnows Lincoln Red Imps.
Celtic can rarely have faced European opposition of such contrasting quality in the same week.
Wolfsburg and the boys from the Rock could scarcely be further apart when it comes to resources.
The Bundesliga outfit play in the Volkswagen Arena, while the Red Imps players are driving VWs to their work.
Wolfsburg reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League last term, beating Real Madrid 2-0 at home before losing the return leg 3-0.
As you might expect, they fielded a team full of powerful, athletic players who were all comfortable on the ball.
Rodgers’ boys gave the impression of a group shocked by the fallout from their 1-0 defeat in the Champions League qualifier.
Celtic almost played two entirely different teams in each half.
There were 10 changes at halftime with only Ajer, who replaced Erik Sviatchenko early on, reappearing after the break.
The sight of Sviatchenko going off after a head-knock was a worrying one for the home fans but he is expected to play the second leg against the Red Imps on Wednesday.
The supporters live in fear of Celtic being forced to give Efe Ambrose another chance in central defence.
The big Nigerian managed to play for 45 minutes without a blunder but he has surely run out of chances in important games.
It seems likely that Sviatchenko will be partnered by Mikael Lustig in midweek.
Celtic’s starting line-up gave a few clues to the way Brendan Rodgers hopes to turn things around against the team from Gibraltar on Wednesday night.
The manager said he fielded a back four that morphed into a back three at times.
That shows the entire Celtic setup is very much a work in progress under the Irishman.
Norwegian teenager Kristofer may be a centre-back with Celtic in the future simply because they have so many midfielders.
The 18-year-old maintains he will not be fazed by being thrown into the defence this week.
He said: “If the manager gives me the opportunity to take part in the second leg against Lincoln Red Imps, I’ll be ready.
“The only thing I am working on right now is to develop, and if that means I need to play centre-half, I’ll play centre-half.”
Further up the field, Patrick Roberts was deployed wide on the right and the formation included two strikers – Griffiths and Demble.
There should be enough firepower to bag a few goals but they cannot afford to lose another lose another daft goal that would have the nerves jangling.
Wolfsburg went ahead when a shot was deflected past Craig Gordon by young home defender Eoghan O’Connell.
Callum McGregor got Celtic back one level terms with a beauty of a curling shot.
Ryan Christie got the winner when he drove at the German defence, took advantage of a ricochet and calmly stroked the ball home.
Having signed only one player so far – striker Moussa Demble – there’s little to add to the initial excitement generated by Brendan Rodgers’ appointment as the Hoops manager.
The one new feature at Celtic Park is the introduction of a safe-standing area.
Even half-full, the section of supporters in a modern version of the old terracing created plenty of noise.
STAR MAN