Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer has been one of few to shine this season.
Next to Ismaila Soro and David Turnbull, Ajer’s performances have been genuinely solid all season long. Yes, he’s part of a defence that’s leaked goals from set-pieces, but his work-rate and leadership have grown through 20-21.
Today, against Aberdeen, Ajer was imperious. He found it so easy, that he often launched into long-distance runs with the ball. It’s something he’s done in spells this season, but today he thought he was Beckenbauer.
Fine, yes: this Aberdeen side have struggled to score goals. However, Ajer was top-notch today, winning Man of the Match and keeping a clean sheet.
The Norwegian dispossessed Aberdeen on three occasions, was tidy with his passing and – staggeringly – didn’t have to make a tackle the whole game [WhoScored?]. His anticipation and reading of the game meant he didn’t need to do anything rash. That’s the sign of a complete centre-back.
With Ajer’s contract running out in 2022, Celtic will undoubtedly field bids for the centre-back. However, with the right manager in place, and the possibility of vice-captaincy, fans hope Ajer could be convinced to stay beyond then. Certainly, at his current rate of development, he could recoup the Bhoys a sizeable fee for his services. It’s also worth remembering that he’s just 22.
That’s frightening.
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Celtic supporters praise Ajer for imperious display
Celtic supporters praised Ajer for another excellent performance.