A positive ending to pre-season for Celtic.
Days after Celtic’s horror show against Ajax in the Como Cup, the players were back on the field again for their final pre-season match against Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ahli on Saturday evening.
It’s fair to say that there has been a fair bit of negativity around Celtic of late because fans are frustrated with how the 2025 summer transfer window is going, and then conceding five to a young Dutch side doesn’t help.
But Brendan Rodgers had a smile on his face when Celtic beat Al-Ahli on penalties to secure third place in the Como Cup.
And to nobody’s surprise, one familiar face was given his flowers.
James Forrest praised as Celtic beat Al-Ahli in pre-season
There probably isn’t a more popular player at Celtic than James Forrest, and he played a part in the equalising goal.
The ball was whipped into the far post from a corner, and following a lovely cushion down by Celtic’s most decorated player of all time, the ball was wonderfully whipped into the back of the net by Auston Trusty.
Speaking on Celtic TV (26/07/25), Simon Donnelly praised Forrest for the role he played in Trusty’s strike, and how it was a move ‘they worked on the training pitch.’
“Well, football can be a simple game at times,” said Donnelly about Celtic’s equalising goal. “It’s a deep cross, I don’t know whether they worked on this, that’s just helped back in by James Forrest.
“And he has the simplest of tasks. A lovely little cushion. A ball back in, and Trusty is there to sweep it home. So, it’s a move they have worked on in the training pitch. Full credit to them.
“Forrest showed all his experience. It would have been easy to lash out at it and try to shoot himself, but just the awareness to help it back in the area.”
Forrest is ‘so intelligent’ as he embarks on another record-breaking season with Celtic
After Forrest’s record-breaking season last time out, the 34-year-old is now embarking on another campaign with Scotland’s most successful club.
As mentioned on Celtic TV, the all-action winger is ‘so intelligent’ in his play, and he showcased that against Al-Ahli.
As the game wore on against the Saudi side, Donnelly continued to praise Forrest for what he brings to the table for his boyhood club.
The Celtic TV commentator stated: “I think, every time you see Forrest on the ball, you can see where the experience comes. He is so intelligent.”
Donnelly then responded: “That comes with the amount of time in the game. He can read situations really well. That time there, he wins the foul, and he gets into the right position to be fouled. He knows that he is under a little bit of pressure there and just breaks the game up.
“But, the assist for the goal, again, decision-making. He didn’t lash out at anything. He kept it cool for a little layoff for the goal.”
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