Luis Palma’s Honduras leave stunned manager ‘speechless’ as Celtic outcast endures horrific Gold Cup opener

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Luis Palma will return to Celtic this summer after his loan spell with Olympiacos.

Palma played 12 times for the Greek giants across the second half of last season, but he only scored one goal and provided a solitary assist.

Sky Sports claim Palma is one of five players Celtic want to offload this summer, with Brendan Rodgers aiming to trim his first-team squad.

Palma is currently playing for Honduras at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and unfortunately, as if his 2024/25 season wasn’t bad enough, it just got a whole lot worse.

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Palma hooked at half-time as Canada thump Honduras 6-0

Palma started Honduras’ opening Gold Cup group stage clash against Canada in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

But he endured a horrific first-half and was subsequently hooked at the interval by his national team boss Reinaldo Rueda.

Honduras were 2-0 down at the break before shipping another four goals to a ruthless Canada team, who were without Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston.

Honduras were thumped 6-0 and it was a night to forget for Palma, who can’t seem to catch a break at the moment.

How Reinaldo Rueda reacted to Honduras thrashing

Rueda spoke at a post-match press conference after the game and said that at half-time, when he substituted Palma off, the game was already over – even if it was only 2-0 to Canada.

Admitting he was left speechless, Rueda told Diez: “It’s hard to come to terms with that moment. It’s very tough because it’s happened. It happens often in football, but at least it’s never happened to me like that, especially not with Honduras.

“I think that 2-0 at the end of the first half practically sealed the game in Canada’s favor, and we didn’t have the mental strength to react and assimilate.

“Now I’m speechless, I think I’m speechless to explain and to assimilate such a lopsided result, such a heavy score for us.

“I think it’s the intensity with which the opponent subjected us, that didn’t let us play. I think that’s where it all comes down to, the tactical intensity.

“I think the level, the quality of the opponent is overwhelming and makes the difference.”