The selection and performance of Paulo Bernardo during Celtic’s 2-0 defeat to Lazio in the UEFA Champions League was a big talking point for James McFadden.
Before the must-win game for Brendan Rodgers’ side could kick-off, he expressed his ‘big surprise’ at Paulo Bernardo starting.
Now, Celtic are light in numbers across the pitch, especially with the injury to Reo Hatate, so if he was fit, then he starts instead.
Either way, James McFadden felt that Celtic’s on-loan star couldn’t get going and stated that he ‘barely touched the ball’ in Lazio’s final third, as he told Sportsound.
It was a pretty dull first half, from both sides, nothing much was happening, with the duo playing it fairly safe.
But at the start of the second half, the Bhoys tried to put their foot down, as Kyogo Furuhashi missed a very good chance that whistled past the post early in the second half.
That’s when Ciro Immobile was introduced into the action and he blew Celtic away with a brace – Alan Brazil slammed the player’s actions.
Nonetheless, this is what James McFadden had to say about Paulo Bernardo before and during the game.
Paulo Bernardo v Lazio
“Bernardo is probably the biggest surprise for me,” said McFaddenon his selection before the game. “I am not sure yet. I don’t really see what he is.”
And then throughout the game, McFadden shared his thoughts on Bernardo’s performance:
“He didn’t have a great deal of options. He had Kyogo making that run, but because of Lazio’s pressure. Celtic have brought everyone back defending and Bernardo doesn’t have any other option. He is trying to free himself up, but in the end, he ends up with three men around him.
“You are speaking about how they need to get Forrest, Yang and Kyogo into the game, they absolutely do.
“But, in order to do that. They have to find Bernardo and O’Riley. They have barely touched the ball in and around Lazio’s box. They are the key players who will draw defenders out of position.
“Bernardo almost hesitates, he should be going with real urgency.
“It’s an easy pass for someone to play and he gets it wrong. Wasted opportunity.”
Paulo Bernardo doesn’t impress
At 21, there still has to be patience with the player, but he didn’t do enough to get his forward players in the game.
Playing in midfield, away from home in Europe, isn’t easy, but he was just too safe during the match.
The stats don’t make good reading. Footmob handed him a 6.6 rating, with 35 touches during the game and zero in Lazio’s penalty box – he was subbed with 20 minutes left for Hyeongyu Oh.
To put that into context, Mikey Johnston, who came on after the hour mark, had 23 touches.
The issue with Bernardo is that he needs to come to life, push further forward, and take those risks because he wasn’t doing that in Rome.
Reo Hatate has that swagger to his game, Matt O’Riley is always involved in the final third, whilst Callum McGregor is the controller and reliable figure.
Celtic fans are yet to see what Bernardo is all about.
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