Belgrade lessons for Brendan – Donovan shines, Hatate needs a break

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The Celtic Star

·25 September 2025

Belgrade lessons for Brendan – Donovan shines, Hatate needs a break

I wrote an article on The Celtic Star in the lead up to yesterday’s match in Belgrade stating that there were a few things our opening game in the Europa League would shine a light on in regards to this Celtic team, and in just over 90 minutes of action my questions were certainly answered. The first query I had was the fact that we went in to this match as favourites according to the bookies, something that definitely surprised me.

View from the away end in Belgrade, Photo The Celtic Star

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I stated that I found it strange that we were favourites considering our away record in Europe, especially with Red Star Belgrade being able to boast a more than decent record at home. On top of this our opponents had started the season impressively despite, like Celtic, also going out in the Champions League playoff round whilst being favourites to progress.

Celtic fans ahead of kick-off Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo: Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

Domestically they had started the campaign on fire, winning all their matches, scoring plenty of goals and conceding very little. I predicted a draw and said I would be relatively happy with that result and I stand by that today. Coming away from the ‘Marakana’ with a point is a decent result.

I do have to say however that after seeing Red Star Belgrade in action I’m convinced that they were most certainly beatable. In fact once we took the lead in that second half I couldn’t really see them coming back but it was our weakness in defending set pieces, that was evident all night, that was our undoing in the end.

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So what did last night tell us about this Celtic team in general?

Well, we are obviously still a work in progress. The fluidity still isn’t there, which maybe should be expected at this point in the season especially with so many new recruits still trying to bed in. Players who thought they were leaving in the summer like Maeda and Yang clearly still have their minds elsewhere. On the plus side though we look decent defensively (set pieces aside) and the new recruits like Tounekti and Inheanacho are proving their worth and improving our attacking options. We can only continue to improve from here on.

The litmus test for Colby Donovan

Colby Donovan of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

Another point I raised before the match was that for Colby Donovan this would be the litmus test on his future Celtic career. I said that playing against Red Star Belgrade, with the intimating atmosphere and the high stakes involved, would show us whether he could be the next homegrown star to emerge from our academy. Or would he crumble under the pressure. Well we certainly have our answer. The youngster was excellent and was quite rightly awarded man of the match in the only ratings that matter, Sandman’s definitive ones.

Anthony Ralston of Celtic substituted for Colby Donovan of Celtic. Celtic v Livingston, William Hill Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, UK – 23 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

His performance was so impressive that it’s led me to believe that the shirt is his for the moment, at least until Alistair Johnston returns. I love Tony Ralston, a player who gives his all every time he pulls the famous hoops on but if I’m being totally honest, he is what he is. An able deputy who always gives 100% but we can’t deny he has his limitations. I’ve always been happy to keep him around as an able deputy to Johnston but Donovan is very quickly showing he may well be a better option, and with Donovan he will only keep improving with experience.

A quick word of warning

Colby Donovan of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

Just a quick word of warning however. As a fan base we must be patient with Donovan. He has impressed every one of us so far but we need to remember that he has just turned 19 and is still learning. There will be games where he makes mistakes and we have to live with that and continue to support him. With help and support from the fans, his coaches and his teammates however it’s definitely exciting to see such a promising talent come through the ranks for the first time in what seems like forever.

"A dream come true!" ✨ 19-year-old Colby Donovan shares his thoughts on making his first European appearance for Celtic 🟢 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK
– Rabu, 24 September 2025

Celtic’s midfield trio of McGregor, Hatate and Nygren

Red Star Belgrade 1-1 Celtic. Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates his goal Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

The last thing I mentioned in my previous article was that it would be interesting to see if the trio of McGregor, Hatate and Nygren, could handle the step up in competition against Red Star after looking like they were starting to gel a bit better against Partick Thistle. Well the answer, as expected, was no. I have been critical of Brendan Rodgers for persevering with this midfield as I feel it will get exposed against better opposition, and while that wasn’t the case last night, the deficiencies were certainly there to see.

Reo Hatate of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

McGregor once again looked isolated at times and struggled to get his game going. Nygren is a bit of a paradox were he certainly comes up with big moments like with his assist but also goes missing at times. The biggest let down however was Hatate who was completely off the boil.

Personally I feel like it might be time for Brendan Rodgers to withdraw him for a few games and give Engels, Bernardo or McCowan a chance in there to impress. We all know Hatate is a good player but unfortunately he hasn’t been at the races at all this season so far.

Brendan Rodgers of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 September 2025 Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

Certainly Rodgers needs to do something with our midfield as it hasn’t been functioning correctly at all so far this season, and if he persists I can see it ending in disaster at some point against some of the better opposition in the Europa League.

Conall McGinty

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