The games are coming thick and fast now, as Brendan Rodgers rotated his Celtic XI for the visit of Hibernian on Saturday.
Following Celtic’s draw at Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Wednesday night, the likes of Anthony Ralston, Marcelo Saracchi, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan and Kelechi Iheanacho came into the XI for the weekend Premiership encounter.
It means that Paulo Bernardo finds himself further down the midfield pecking order, as Celtic drew 0-0 with Hibernian.
Given that this was another frustrating goalless draw for the champions of Scotland, the Celtic Park faithful want changes, and they want Bernardo to be at the heart of it.
READ MORE: Meet Paulo Bernardo, the Celtic star who needs a strong 25/26 season
Celtic fans react to Paulo Bernardo’s cameo against Hibernian
After 74 minutes, McCowan was hooked off for Bernardo, and the Celtic supporters liked what they saw from the Portuguese star.
Many on social media have made it clear that, not only should the former Benfica player earn more minutes, but they would also like to see him start more matches.
The likes of Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren were just some of the players to come under fire, including how they slow the game down compared to Bernardo.
@67_Celtic_1888 made his feelings clear: ‘Bernardo has to start now.’
Another shout for Bernado to start, as @John1888P added: ‘Sorry, but you can see what Bernardo offers in the little minutes he gets. Good passing, looks forward and has a great shot. It should’ve been him starting instead of Engels or McCowan.’
@nathangreennn thinks Bernardo is better than Engels and McCowan: ‘I agree Bernardo is better than those two.’
@aarongraham99 expressed his frustrations as to what McGregor and Nygren do wrong: ‘Unbelievable how McGregor and Nygren are picked before Bernardo, two of them slow the game down so much.”
@Divers1982 gave his flowers to Bernardo: ‘That was one of the best performances outside the box I’ve watched in months from Celtic, just unlucky not to score McCowan and Engels in front of CalMac was fresh, and exciting And Bernardo coming on was a nice touch, that lad needs more time on the pitch.’
Another Celtic fan baffled by how Bernardo is treated, as @tartan68565 added: ‘The game passed by Luke Mc Cowan, how he gets a start before Bernardo is beyond belief, put his depth in a Celtic top along with Ralston. Guaranteed the board will sell Allister Johnston and use him as backup to Donovan.’
@67_Celtic_1888 thinks there are no more excuses for Celtic’s midfielders: ‘C’mon…. How long are we gonna keep saying this about Engels, he’s being played out of position & we’re never rotating McGregor… McCowan done nothing today, Bernardo should be ahead of both of them now when the next rotation roles round.’
@Gastro_Celtic on what Celtic’s midfield did against Hibs: ‘Completely agree. Not saying Engels/McCowan set the game alight, but along with Bernardo they were at least mobile and not trying daft stuff like Hatate or sitting on the ball too long like Nygren.’
@TheBhoysPage with a clear message: ‘Play McCowan & Bernardo in the midfield @CelticFC.’
Bernardo’s game time in numbers since last season
There was a period last season when Bernardo was out of action through injury, but in between that, it felt like he was still the backup option.
This is despite Celtic making his transfer to Glasgow permanent during the summer of 2024. His only issue was that Arne Engels was signed as a club-record transfer.
Therefore, he was going to earn those extra minutes, as Bernardo comes off the bench more than he starts.
- Games since start of 24/25 season: 48
- Starts: 20
- Off the bench: 28
- Unused substitute: 12
- Total minutes: 1,996
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