Chris Sutton believes Celtic should use the final Europa League match, against Real Betis, to rotate the squad for more important league battles.
Sutton, writing in his Daily Record column, insisted that instead of a big European clash, the dead rubber between Betis and Celtic at Paradise was an opportunity. Fringe players needing match fitness need to be the priority, according to the Celtic favourite.
With Celtic out of the Europa League, there’s only pride to play for at Paradise this Thursday. However, there’s meaningful scope for Ange Postecoglou. There’s absolutely no chance the Greek-Australian manager wants to see out his first Europa League campaign with a whimper.
However, Sutton believes that Celtic’s key players need to be rested for longer-term goals at Paradise.
He wrote [Daily Record]:
“There are good signs, take the Bayer Leverkusen result at the end of September out of the equation and Celtic’s run over recent months has been superb. They are finding a way to win and the consistency has been good.
“They need to keep it up, games are coming thick and fast and next week’s game against Real Betis is an opportunity to give fringe players a run out and not risk the big guns. They need to take the opportunity.”
Chris Sutton makes a good point, but Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is unlikely to take Betis game lightly
Celtic have amongst the worst defensive records in the Europa League. Real Betis put 4 past us last time. You can see where we’re going with this.
While the fringe options Celtic have definitely need game-time, it’ll take big performances nonetheless. Ange Postecoglou is known for his attacking philosophy but you can bet the goals conceded in the Europa League rankle with him.
As well they should, in fairness.
In that sense, it’s hard to see Postecoglou following the Chris Sutton advice of resting all of his key Celtic players. Joe Hart, Callum McGregor, players like Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers, you can see them all playing against Real Betis.
For the likes of Mikey Johnston, it’ll be a chance to see if he can get on the scoresheet or impact the game in other crucial ways. Perhaps James McCarthy will be given a shot, or even Liam Scales or Liam Shaw. However, I just can’t see the wholesale changes Sutton is suggesting.
At this point, it’s about winning as many games as possible. Beating Betis wouldn’t mean anything materially. But from a morale point of view? It’d have real value.
You can see Chris Sutton’s logic, of course you can. In terms of the longer term, it’s probably the pragmatic and sensible decision.
But it’s just not the one I see being made.
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