Celtic defender Stephen Welsh has dubbed yesterday’s first-half performance in Warsaw the best of Celtic’s pre-season so far.
The centre-half spoke following Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Legia, which saw the Hoops race into a 2-0 half time lead in the Polish capital before being pegged back in the second half, the game being played to mark former Celtic hero Artur Boruc’s retirement.
As reported by Football Scotland, Welsh said: “I thought we were excellent in the first half and could have scored a few more goals but they were good in the second half and I thought their early goal gave them momentum.
“I don’t think we really got going in the second half so I think we need to look at that – making sure we are strong in both halves.
“I think the way we played and the way we were moving in the first 45 was the best we have shown and as I said we need to build on that and take that on.”
Welsh played 80 minutes of yesterday’s friendly and was a key part of Daizen Maeda’s goal, feeding the imperious Reo Hatate the ball from deep who found his fellow countryman with a perfectly weighted pass.
The 22 year old said: “We’ve had a few games now and it’s just trying to get into a rhythm. I’ve played in most of them so that’s been good. We know the games will come thick and fast – we’ve got Aberdeen in 10 days – so we need to be ready to go.
“So I think we need to get it properly right against Norwich on Saturday. We need to put in a performance. I think we need to start games better – and that means both halves but once we start playing our football we do it really well.”
Celtic have been exhilarating in spells so far since returning from their post-season break, often looking at their fluid best with regular first team picks in the side before dropping off after a raft of changes in the second halves of games.
The Scottish Champions round off their pre-season at home to Norwich City on Saturday ahead of their Premiership bow against Aberdeen on the 31st of July.
In other news: Celtic publish emotional Artur Boruc and Stevie Woods photo
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