Celtic v BSC Young Boys – Same again Celtic, the Hoops team that picks itself | OneFootball

As we wait in anticipation for another big night at Celtic Park in the UEFA Champions League group stages, there will be several decisions the manager has to make when we do battle with BSC Young Boys in Paradise…

Celtic players pose for a team photo on the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers has had to rotate as best as he could in recent times to avoid overloading the same players with too many minutes and inviting injuries.

Nicolas Kühn and Daizen Maeda are Celtic’s key men this season

Nicolas Kühn and Daizen Maeda have been two such players and both have had to deal with niggling issues and general fatigue of late, having played a lot of games this year already. The need for reinforcements on the wings has never been so necessary as we risk blunting arguably our two best weapons in the way that we play as a team. Their absence was keenly felt in the past few games before their return and they will be crucial if we are to win tomorrow evening.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Kyogo will be at the spearhead of the attack

It’s a stick on that those men mentioned will start and no doubt Kyogo will be at the spearhead of the attack in that triumvirate of pace and trickery. Adam Idah has been toiling of late and it would be difficult to see Rodgers deciding to start him against the Swiss side. Always a good option to bring from the bench though, Idah could be a welcome introduction later on in the game if we’re needing that ball to stick and the game becomes stretched at that point.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Auston Trusty instead of Liam Scales

Meanwhile, defence should take care of itself more-or-less too, with Rodgers likely to stick with Auston Trusty instead of Liam Scales, who has been utilised at left-back quite a bit of late. He’s been brought on to shore up that defence and add much needed height which Greg Taylor just does not have. Having said that, the manager will stick with the former Killie man and leave young Barcelona full-back, Alex Valle, on the bench. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston take care of themselves.

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League Kyogo Furuhashi applauds the fans ahead of Daizen Maeda after being substituted off during the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

It’s the midfield that is most intriguing as the Irishman has a full bill of health apart from veteran, James Forrest, who is still out of action with a knock he picked up in the League Cup Final. Callum McGregor starts of course, as the captain is instrumental in everything we do. But it’s the other two places that hold intrigue. Will it be Hatate and Engels alongside the main man or will he opt to freshen it up and put in Paulo Bernardo? What about possibly even Luke McCowan for more energy in that area?

It will be interesting to see how Rodgers sees this one but the team that started on Saturday against was also the team that started against RB Leipzig back on 5 November and can be regarded as Brendan’s strongest team. So unless other factors such as injury or illness come into play this will be the Celtic team that get their photograph taken before kick-off against BSC Young Boys…

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League – League Stage – Celtic Park (back to front, left to right) Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi before the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park, on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Paul Gillespie

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