Kasper Schmeichel is coming under the spotlight again, and all for the wrong reasons.
Celtic’s number one returned to the starting XI for the trip to Motherwell after he missed the manic win over Livingston over the weekend because of injury.
The champions of Scotland were picking the ball out of the back of the net pretty early against Livi, and the same happened again at Fir Park.
Whilst it was a far quieter opening 45 minutes compared to Livingston, it still wasn’t the start Wilfried Nancy would have wanted, and Pat Bonner was pretty unhappy with Schmeichel’s actions.
- READ MORE: James McFadden says benched Celtic star would provide ‘control’ to Wilfried Nancy’s manic style
Should Celtic prioritise replacing Kasper Schmeichel in the transfer window?
Pat Bonner critical of Kasper Schmeichel during Celtic’s clash at Motherwell
Bonner was one of Celtic’s best-ever keepers, and he has been pretty clear on Schmeichel before; he thinks Viljami Sinisalo should be Celtic’s number one.
For Motherwell’s opening goal, Stephen O’Donnell whipped in a vicious cross from deep on the right flank, and Ibrahim Said powered home.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland (30/12/25), Bonner called out Schmeichel and questioned his positioning, and how he should have come off his line to claim the cross rather than sit deep and watch Said open the scoring.
“Starting position has to be higher up,” said Bonner. “He almost needs to be starting at the six-yard box. Then he can always drop deep.
“The ball is played over the centre-half. I don’t think the centre-half could get there. It was a great ball. Bending ball. It was dropping over the top of the centre-half. Straight onto the head.
“He has to be in a position where he starts around the six-yard box and comes and deals with that. I think that ball has travelled probably what, 30 or 40 yards?
“When you have a centre-half on the opposite side, getting the ball on the halfway line, and he is able to play that pass. He is just over the halfway line. That travels so far. You have to be in a position where you can deal with it from a goalkeeper’s perspective.”
Does Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic compare to Tommy Burns’ in 1996? Let us know in the comments.
Viljami Sinisalo needs to start for Celtic
Sinisalo was handed regular game time towards the back end of last season when Schmeichel injured his shoulder on international duty.
The former Aston Villa man looked calm in between the sticks and played like he was ready to become Celtic’s number one.
You just wonder if Sinisalo doesn’t get the chance sooner or later, he might end up looking elsewhere for that starting spot.
But after Celtic’s defeat to Motherwell, you just wonder if Nancy will be in the dugout any longer to make such calls.
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