Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel has given an honest breakdown on playing out from the back.
After his devastating injury blow this week, Schmeichel is dipping his toes in the punditry world, so we may need to get used to hearing more from the 39-year-old.
He has endured an extremely tough year at Celtic, suffering with his form due to a shoulder injury sustained a year ago and facing widespread criticism from fans.
Aside from shot-stopping, playing out from the back is another huge task for Schmeichel in a ball-dominant Celtic team – he has broken his thoughts on the modern trend.
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Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel on playing out from the back
On CBS Sports Golazo on Wednesday, Schmeichel said: “I think it’s really important that, when you play out from the back, you have balance and you choose your moments correctly.
“It very much depends on the opposition, how they’re going to press.
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“I think the evolution of the game really changed in 2019, particularly on goal kicks, when they changed the rules so you could receive the ball in your own box as a defender.
“So that was a tipping point, where teams were able to create overloads. Because no one was really ready for that.
“I think where we’ve got to now, teams are so good at pressing now that there’s not always an advantage in playing out from the back, particularly when teams go man-for-man.
“That’s when the big counter-movements come in. It becomes just a match-up between the player and the other player. Who’s better at receiving the ball, who’s stronger, who’s faster.
“And as a goalkeeper, if you’ve got the ball at your feet, your distribution is only as good as the intended receiver.
“We saw Filip Jorgensen (Chelsea, Denmark goalkeeper) there. If you pass the ball and he has a touch like that, it’s amazing. But if you pass the ball and he gives it away, then it’s not a successful action.
“But obviously, it’s become a massive thing, and I think having balance and keeping the opposition guessing… I think that’s the most important thing when it comes to playing [out].”
You have £10m to spend on a new goalkeeper to replace Kasper Schmeichel…
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Celtic’s shift away from playing out from the back
Upon the arrival of Ange Postecoglou in 2021, Celtic became almost exclusively wedded to playing out from the back, with Joe Hart’s quick restarts becoming a feature of the team’s play.
When Schmeichel arrived under Brendan Rodgers in 2024, the Hoops’ average possession per game jumped to 74.5%, their highest-ever on record.
However, it currently sits at 66.5% this season, with the Hoops’ tactics beset by managerial turmoil. Under Wilfried Nancy, Schmeichel was noticeably frustrated by the team’s inability to play out as instructed against Roma.
In Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox a fortnight ago – for which Schmeichel wasn’t in goal – their possession was 40.9%, signifying a clear change in tactical approach. Almost every kick went long from Viljami Sinisalo that day.
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