That was dire from Celtic, as they were well-beaten by VfB Stuttgart in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Stuttgart ran out deserved 4-1 winners from the first-leg at Celtic Park, and will return to Germany with a spring in their step and with more than one foot in the knockout stages.
67 Hail Hail takes a look at the five things we learned from Celtic’s horror defeat to Stuttgart, with the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and Julian Araujo featuring.
- READ MORE: Sebastian Tounekti hails Celtic Park’s iconic European reputation, even as a kid growing up
Can you see any way of Celtic getting back into this tie?
Why did it go so wrong? Let us know
Kasper Schmeichel needs to be dropped
In perhaps the least surprising bit of analysis. Calling for Schmeichel to be dropped from the XI shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.
It’s becoming tiring how many goals Celtic are conceding from distance, and he is at fault. There have been several in Europe this season, and this Stuttgart game was no different.
From issues with his shoulder. Age. And just pure decline. It seems as though if Celtic’s number one remains in the team, then more errors will occur.
Where has it gone wrong for Kasper Schmeichel this season?
Let us know in the comments
Celtic need new centre-backs in the summer
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ season-ending injury has proven to be a killer for Celtic this season, but it has also put an extra light on Scales and Trusty.
As proven against Stuttgart and throughout the campaign, the duo can’t be trusted to be regular starters or centre-backs who can lead at the heart of defence.
That’s why, in the summer, however many trophies are or aren’t lifted, at least one proven centre-back needs to be signed.
Celtic will continue to play broken football
Celtic’s record under O’Neill, over his two spells, has been pretty strong, and that’s a credit to the legendary Irishman.
But throughout O’Neill’s reign, as well as Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy, the champions of Scotland have played broken football.
Even if Celtic continue to win on the domestic circuit, you sense the team will continue to play broken football, and as they proved during their defeat to Stuttgart, they will have to grind, grind, and grind themselves over the line.
Julian Araujo continues to thrive at Celtic
One man who deserves his flowers is Araujo. He looked lively on that right flank, but probably wasn’t helped by Daizen Maeda.
As of this moment, the Mexican international is on loan from Bournemouth, and if he continues in his current ways, then he deserves to be signed permanently.
A case for Martin O’Neill to play a weakened team in the return leg
Celtic will travel to Ibrox, days after they play Stuttgart in the return leg, and you wonder if O’Neill should play a weakened team.
Yes, the Hoops could go for it, and perhaps get a positive result out in Germany. A win even. But even then, it might not be enough to progress.
Therefore, it’s a valid argument to have about whether Celtic should heavily rotate for that match because even the most ardent of supporters knows that the team is heading out.
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