“I don’t understand why Bernardo isn’t playing,” Frank McAvennie

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The Celtic Star

·17. September 2025

“I don’t understand why Bernardo isn’t playing,” Frank McAvennie

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie is asking the question on a lot of Celtic fans’ minds. Why is Paulo Bernardo not getting a look-in at Celtic?

Paulo Bernardo of Celtic vies with Shane Blaney of Livingston during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I think Hatate, McGregor and whoever else is in there… there are three of them and I think they have to change that up. I don’t understand why Bernardo isn’t playing. I don’t get it. I honestly don’t get it. CalMac could get a couple of days’ rest, I think. Just because he’s the captain… he’s got to be rested the same as everyone else, you know?”

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So far this season Bernardo has played just 71 minutes of football, split across one Scottish Premiership game and one League Cup encounter. In normal circumstances that lack of game time could be explained away by the early stage of the season. After all, it is not uncommon for Brendan Rodgers to forego rotation when there is more than three days between games. If there is enough recovery time, he is quite happy not to disrupt the team.

That of course will change when the Europa League starts next week, and the Thursday-to-Sunday turnover begins in earnest.

But the reason McAvennie, and others, are raising Bernardo’s name is not simply due to concerns over player burnout at this stage of the season. It is because Celtic’s midfield hasn’t looked much more than functional for some time.

Greg Taylor. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The issue is not exclusive to this season, but it has become more evident since the departure of Greg Taylor. Adjustments have had to be made in the absence of an inverting full-back and the midfield seems to have been neutered somewhat in the process of changing things up. Without fully functioning and effective wingers early in the season, the onus was on the midfield to provide creativity—but it has been found wanting.

Benjamin Nygren at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The manager seems to prefer playing Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren alongside Callum McGregor. The creativity could come from Hatate as the most press-resistant player in the central area, but he’s yet to hit his straps this season. Meanwhile, Nygren looks lost defending transitions and far better breaking into the box on the counter attack than in structured build-up play. Indeed, all three central midfielders look a bit one-paced. Nygren may score goals and assist, but is he really a creative type in the Matt O’Riley mould? There is promise, but the jury is out for now.

Paulo Bernardo Portugal, UEFA European Under 21 Championship 2025 Group Stage, Portugal v France, Å tadion SihoÅ, June 11, 2025 in Trencín, Slovakia Photo by Marco Steinbrenner DeFodi Images

But is Bernardo the answer? Probably not—at least not in the role Rodgers has asked of him previously. The manager has tried him in Nygren’s position, but he hasn’t been able to show he’s a consistent creative force there. Now it seems Nygren and Arne Engels have that role on rotation, while Hatate has Luke McCowan for cover. That leaves Bernardo in the unenviable position of being the back-up deep-lying playmaker to the Celtic captain.

Callum McGregor at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

For many observers, that’s his best position. And as much as some supporters would like to see Callum McGregor rested and rotated on occasion, Celtic’s stuttering start to the season is no time to rest the captain—not until the team can settle into a rhythm.

Yet there is an argument for at least trying something different. McGregor has rarely been a consistent breaker of lines with his passing beyond the short variety, and it was always his ball carrying that offered an alternative. But old father time may be catching up. Opposition teams seem to have noticed that, and McGregor has struggled to carry the ball as effectively as in previous seasons. Hatate and Nygren both drop back on occasion to assist, but neither are particularly suited to that defensive responsibility and neither have the pace, or short burst acceleration, to drive forward from deep. Opposition teams are getting into shape with relative ease.

Reo Hatate at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Perhaps then the manager could consider some assistance beside McGregor, which would suit Bernardo and offer Celtic more passing range. Hatate and Nygren could rotate as a number 10, meaning less defensive responsibility for both and more freedom as attacking influences.

It’s a possibility, but also unlikely. Despite Celtic lacking credible threats from out wide, Rodgers has stuck with his 4-3-3 formation rigidly, almost obstinately. Even when effective wingers were in short supply earlier in the season, he refused to trial a system less reliant on attacking wide players.

Brendan Rodgers at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

This is strange when you consider that prior to returning to Celtic, Rodgers regularly chopped and changed from a back three to a back four at Leicester City. Many supporters expected that tactical flexibility to carry over. Was he sending a message regarding the club’s recruitment this summer? Perhaps. But now the squad is locked in until January, and with less time on the training ground, there is little scope for radical change. An opportunity missed perhaps?

Arne Engels – theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Could a midfield box behind one striker and wing-backs either side work? Could Tounekti do that role on the left? Could Engels play on the right and utilise his delivery, could he rotate with Alistair Johnston when he returns to fitness? Could Hatate and Nygren play behind a main striker, with Bernardo sitting alongside McGregor in the deeper roles? Perhaps, it’s a workable solution from midfield to attack—but then comes the question of defensive personnel.

Dane Murray of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Cameron Carter-Vickers could certainly play centrally or on the right of a back three, and Dane Murray looks a progressive passer who might suit the right side, Alistair Johnston has also played there for Canada. But on the left side of a central defensive three Celtic look stuck. Auston Trusty, managing an injury, could fit the role when fit, especially with recovery pace as an asset, but passing with accuracy is an issue. Liam Scales, a solid defender, might struggle with ball progression and he too on occasion lacks passing accuracy. Kieran Tierney would be the key to making that system work, but the manager is stymied in that regard for now because Tierney has yet to complete 90 minutes since returning to the club.

Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates scoring to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace, IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)

As such it seems Rodgers will continue with a back four and the familiar 4-3-3. If that’s the case, Bernardo will continue to struggle for regular minutes, as a victim of circumstance. Even when Celtic do substitute midfielders it is a rare occurrence for McGregor to make way, instead Hatate and Nygren are the ones to drop out. That leaves Engels and McCowan picking up game time but leaves Bernardo on the sidelines, perhaps bar the odd cup game, like Partick Thistle this weekend, or the odd game against bottom six opposition on the back of European games.

It is a strange situation. Celtic’s midfield is arguably crying out for something different, and Rodgers has a talented option sitting on the bench, but is he different, or more of the same?

Paulo Bernardo of Celtic FC competes for the ball with Fahad Al-Rashidi of Al-Ahli SFC during the Como Cup match between Al-Ahli and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Until the manager either rotates his captain, as McAvennie posits, or embraces a more flexible, or alternative system, Paulo Bernardo looks destined for another season as more often a spectator rather than an active participant. But when you look across the midfield options, and in the absence of formation change, it is both understandable and likely to continue.

Here’s Sebastian Tounekti speaking to The Celtic Star and the three other Celtic fan media outlets yesterday afternoon, watch the video below to hear all the questions and the new Celtic winger’s responses…

Niall J

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Celtic in the Eighties by the late, great David Potter is out now on Celtic Star Books. You can purchase your copy directly from Celticstarbooks.com for same day postage.