What a game for Maik Nawrocki to be thrown into after hardly featuring this season.
On Sunday, Celtic were beaten 3-2 by Rangers in the Glasgow derby, as they produced a disasterclass in midfield and at the back.
Brendan Rodgers was forced to make several changes to his XI, including starting Nawrocki for the first time since May of last season.
Auston Trusty and Liam Scales were injured, so it forced the Celtic manager to pluck out a player he has only handed 23 minutes to this term.
Nawrocki wasn’t at fault for any of the goals, but inside the opening 45 minutes, Rangers were 2-0 up and it could have been a lot worse.
In fact, it was Nawrocki who stopped further humiliation because he blocked Vaclav Cerny from punishing a Kasper Schmeichel mistake.
Chris Sutton was at Celtic Park to watch the Poland star in action and he was pretty honest with what he saw.
Maik Nawrocki hailed as ‘outstanding’ despite Celtic’s defeat to Rangers
Playing alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, it was the American who looked and played like he had only featured in 23 minutes this term.
Sutton was pretty positive with what he saw from Nawrocki and stated that he was ‘outstanding’, as he told Sky Sports Football (16/03/25).
The former striker wanted to note how the fringe centre-back had played very little, yet he made himself known and was one of very few who stood out.
“I tell you what, Nawrocki has had a really steady start to this game,” said Sutton in the first half. “Well, better than steady.
Then late in the second half, Sutton added: “I have got to say, fair play to Nawrocki and his performance. 23 minutes, I think he played this season.
And then after FT, Sutton continued: “In the first half, Celtic never really found their rhythm in the middle of the park. They came out strongly in the second half.
“I have got to say, Nawrocki, for coming in, 23 minutes all season, I thought he had an outstanding game.”
Nawrocki’s stats for Celtic against Rangers
The extent of Trusty and Scales’ injuries are unknown, at the moment, but you presume the international break will help matters.
But when they are back, you are hoping Nawrocki doesn’t go back to not even coming off the bench and being in the match day squads.
Yes, Celtic were very poor against Rangers, but Nawrocki’s 7.05 rated performance by WhoScored was deserved.
| Total tackles | Interceptions | Clearances | Passes | PA% | Accurate Long Balls | Rating |
| 1 | 4 | 7 | 59 | 93.2 | 2 | 7.05 |
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