Wolves only just kept from door
BRENDAN Rodgers isn’t the only manager to find himself unsure of his best team and formation so early in the summer. The not inconsiderable problem for Celtic’s manager is that he already has one embarrassing defeat to his name and Lincoln Red Imps will fancy creating European history in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday.
If the Scottish champions get past the semi-professionals of Gibraltar, as expected, then next up it is either Žalgiris of Lithuania or, most likely, Astana from Kazakhstan, who have a good team and a recent, and decent, Champions League pedigree.
By the time the third round of qualifiers is upon him, Rodgers cannot still be experimenting. The task ahead for him is to sign one defender and settle on a team and their shape over the next 10 days.
In this friendly match against Wolfsburg from Germany, he began with a new system of 3-5-2. There were positives and negatives, but at least this was a good test – and a win – ahead of Wednesday.
Efe Ambrose was dropped from the starting line-up, perhaps forever, and 20-year-old Irish defender Eoghan O’Connell took his place.
Not to talk down his prospects, but Rodgers did not have any other senior centre-halves to call upon. It is a situation that must be rectified because Celtic are poor at the back.
And to make matters worse, Erik Sviatchenko, the one senior central defender available outside Ambrose, went off after 18 minutes with a knock to the head.
The club really should not find themselves so sparse at the back, even taking injuries into consideration.
From the start, Celtic were good going forward and unconvincing in defence. In other words, nothing new here.
A great run from Kieran Tierney in the first few minutes forced a corner. Stuart Armstrong put in a great cross that Sviatchenko got his head to, and was denied by a fine save from Diego Benaglio. Armstrong then saw his shot go just wide as Celtic played good, quick and intelligent football. Where was this last midweek?
But while they looked good going forward, the problems at the other end of the park remained. On 12 minutes, Anton Donkor was given too much time to aim a shot from outside the box at goal, which Craig Gordon saved. The ball bounced back out to Paul Seguin, whose effort took a big deflection that aided it into the net.
Leigh Griffiths hit the post with a good first-time effort on 15 minutes when the ball was cleared to him 18 yards out from a corner. Sviatchenko had taken a dull one to his head in this passage of play and was replaced by the much-hyped Kristoffer Ajer, who did OK.
Rodgers’ mood would have been brightened by a fine equaliser for his side. A quick break after 22 minutes from Celtic allowed Callum McGregor to run at Wolfsburg defender Seguin, the midfielder’s pass to Patrick Roberts was cut out, the ball rolled back to him and with his right foot McGregor curled a shot into the top corner.
The pace of the game was good and after 27 minutes, Gordon again was called into action when he made a smart save to keep out Donkor.
Moussa Dembele got involved after 40 minutes, when he twisted and turned before forcing Benaglio to do some more work.
The second half saw an entire change of team for Celtic, bar Ajer who had come on as a sub. So lots more capable midfielders and strikers, but not so many defenders you would count on in battle.
Ryan Christie scored the winner just after the hour when he managed to squeeze his way past two defenders at the edge of Wolfsburg’s box before sweeping the ball into bottom corner.
The second half was more pedestrian. However, Tom Rogic enjoyed some nice touches, Scott Allan showed up well, Christie grew in confidence after his goal and Jamie, son of Chris, McCart got the last 15 minutes for a home debut.
Rodgers would have been pleased with a lot of the attacking play and the pressing. But like so many before him who have sat in that spot in the dugout, the lack of a solid defence will be a huge concern.