Celtic’s squad management amid increasing demands on players | OneFootball

Last season brought about the changes within the footballing calendar, which led to more matches for so many of our players to be involved in.

Callum Osmand signs for Celtic. Photo Celtic FC

Now I can’t attach any blame to anyone involved in the process involved, in combating the challenges involved, especially within an untried footballing calendar in place. But it still leaves the question of can improvements be made to the strategy that was applied?

Personally, I believe so, and furthermore these need to be applied in order to create a better structure within the Celtic squad, in order to cope better with the amount of matches we will have to play.

Starting with the formation of our finalised 25-man squad. That squad was made up as follows:

3 keepers 10 defenders 5 midfielders 7 attackers

Even getting reduced to the most used 20man SPFL match day squad, which was made up as follows, if everyone was fit, consisted of:

2 keepers 7 defenders 5 midfielders 6 attackers

A strategy that was kept in operation, despite four changes in the winter window, and reducing to 24 players with Monty allowed to leave on loan.

Even though, we did superbly well in the first half of the season, it also seemed to take its toll in the second half of the campaign. That was highlighted by so many mixed displays in performance levels, particularly away from home.

Ross Doohan back to business at Celtic as pre-season training at Lennoxtown gets underway. Photo Celtic FC

Things don’t become any easier with this coming season either. Champions League qualification added, along with World Cup qualification games and preparation camps for so many of our players to be involved within.

The physical demands upon players are greatly increased in comparison to years gone by. With the aid of sports science, rest, diets etc the squad just about handles it.

Even though it makes for less preparation time between matches, where teams with less players involved in CL campaign, along with international duties hold an advantage over ourselves regarding preparation for such upcoming matches against Celtic.

No surprise that it will involve more away trips than home matches, during such a period as per usual?

Celtic’s new signing Benjamin Nygren at Celtic Park. Photo Celtic FC

The other increasing factor is the extra demands upon the mental factor involved. Footballing has always been a very emotional game, where the highs and the lows can be only days apart and on a regular occurrence, especially in the first half of a season. No data or sports science available to combat a hidden agenda.

So are we now seeing the birth of the robotic football player, in order to handle the challenges involved? What won’t change is the demands within every game we play, with winning so high within our supporters’ agenda.

Kieran Tierney, Photo Celtic FC

Hopefully we have learnt plenty from last season, to combat the challenges that the footballing calendar has been placed upon the players.

The squad building, along with the pre-season holds far more relevance than usual now. Within the squad, hopefully more flexibility is added, especially if player rotation is going to have to be applied.

Admittedly it is a potential minefield for a manager to walk through, with the preparation process involved for a coming season.

The demands within our own club won’t change, even if the Club v Country might increase during the course of next season. Hopefully another CL campaign is achieved for Celtic by actually winning a knockout tie, would be a welcome bonus, as still been waiting for to long in that regards.

The best place to start, is at the beginning, and looking at getting the improvements required within our squad.

That starts with the forming of a 25man squad.

We don’t want to be losing too many of our key players within our squad, yet we still have to hope that the challenges involved within a 60 plus match season with high demands. Hopefully the lesser game season with bigger pay demands doesn’t become a factor for our players, especially with a world cup on offer at the end of next season.

I always thought our squad was top heavy with defensive options within it last season. Hope that can be reduced, even if CCV and Tierney can be covered sufficiently, especially with the injury records of both, and game management has to be carefully applied, with some of it, totally out of our control.

I think eight defensive options should be sufficient, especially as we play the majority of our matches on the front foot.

Only having five midfield options proved costly in the end last season, and hope that improves for next season. There are plenty of calls for a proper defensive midfielder player to be added to the squad. I couldn’t disagree, but does that mean a change to the Calmac role?

Possibly easier to apply if a three man defence is introduced, but possibly a wait and see regarding that positional player is currently in operation. The arrival of Benji potentially throws up a different dimension added to our midfield areas, and one to be welcomed also.

As I would class Benji as a midfield option at present, still think having seven as a finished number would be more beneficial to ourselves within a completed squad.

Our attacking options remain our greatest concern at present.

Celtic pre-season training gets underway on Friday 27 June 2025. Photo Celtic FC

The Jota injury has hardly helped matters. Kuhn is about to leave, along with the amount of speculation surrounding the future of Maeda, leaves a very uncertain future to what our attacking options will next season.

Numbers wise, I still think that seven will be the required number, boosted by the flexibility of Benji hopefully. At present I would say that two will hopefully be added, even if it remains unclear as to whether that is to wide options or one wide and one striker. Possibly it depends upon keeping hold of Maeda, and deciding what roles he is going to play.

Regardless a wide option will be required, and sooner the better.

So overall, as much as I welcome the freshness already added to our squad, it’s not entirely clear yet in what positional sense those added will take, except Doohan as a 3rd choice keeper for the new season at least.

Still believe that work is required within our squad, with places still available within it. I would be happy enough if it remains at only three additional players with a midfield and two attacking options added.

Celtic pre-season training gets underway on Friday 27 June 2025. Photo Celtic FC

Somehow don’t think it will be as simple as that before the window actually shuts, as the unexpected is always in play until the window closes.

Thankfully with the action about to start shortly with pre-season matches, it hopefully will become clearer to what the season planning entail regarding the changes expected.

Forming a better all round squad with a better strategy involved, would be a massive step in the right direction for ourselves to be taken, and possibly required moreso with the increased amount of challenges involved this season.

Johnno

PS I forgot to mention that we still looking like being 1 Scottish player short at present, within our homegrown quota requirements.

Nicolas Kuhn celebrates. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star).

That future should look ever so brighter due to the fee we received for his signature and every single penny should be reinvested in the playing squad. We’ve got to spend it there is simply no excuses.

Along with the Jerome Frimpong sell on clause bonus and the impending sale of Gustaf Lagerbiekle we should be capable of landing three or four quality additions to further enhance our starting XI. If not then the supporters and Brendan will have every right to feel aggrieved.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy