Celtic’s transfer gamble with Champions League goes to second leg | OneFootball

Celtic’s Champions League ambitions are in the balance after a tedious 0-0 draw with Kairat Almaty. The Scottish Champions toiled in a frustrating night for the club, which means that a win is required next week to secure progression.

The fears that Celtic had gambled with qualification were swiftly realised as a wooden Celtic struggled to play with any real intensity, resulting in the stalemate in over 100 minutes of football.

Brendan will have his critics insofar as team selection is concerned with Liam Scales, Benji Nygren and James Forrest all starting over Austin Trusty, Arne Engels and Yang. Although, the reality is that the squad was not nearly good enough. A fact that the manager was speaking about before the end of last season.

Unlike last season, the season has started slowly. Celtic have looked predictable and struggled to find the fluid, dynamic football from the first half of last season. Hopes regarding transfer business have turned to apathy and then, frustration. The second half saw Kairat decide to take extreme time wasting measures, which culminated in calls of ‘Sack the Board’ around the ground.

Expected goals, or xG, is a metric that is used to consider how many high value chances are created. Celtic recorded a feeble 0.47, which was lower than that Kazakhstan side (0.48). The staggering decline in the frontline has been visible in recent weeks, a striker, a deputy left back and at least two wingers were required to ease the burden on the attack. Unfortunately, the manager had to call upon Shin, a project signing, shift Liam Scales to left back and push Nygren, who was signed as an ‘eight’ to right wing.

If Celtic fail to progress next week, a reality that should be dawning in the Boardroom of Celtic Park this evening then the blame will lie squarely with the board.