Feyenoord boss Arne Slot reckons that Celtic have been desperately unlucky in their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign.
Slot’s side are in Glasgow for tonight’s matchday six encounter at Celtic Park and reckons there’s not been much difference between the second, third and fourth-placed sides in the table.
Celtic are guaranteed to finish bottom with the Dutch club parachuting into the Europa League from third place, while Atletico Madrid and Lazio progress into the last 16.
For Slot, had one or two key moments gone another way there would have been a big shake-up in the table.
Feyenoord boss ‘feels sorry’ for Celtic
The Feyenoord manager said [Daily Record]: “If you don’t have the money, you should have a good programme or a good idea on how to play football. To be honest, I feel sorry for Celtic because they have played really well in the Champions League, together with us. We’ve played really well as well. You need a good idea of how you want to play.
“If you are not having the money some other clubs have, you need a little bit of luck as well. Two teams face each other tomorrow who haven’t had any, any, any luck at all during the first five games they played!
“Unfortunately, one of the two teams who is reaching the last 16 have had – not luck in the way that they (Lazio) are not good, I don’t mean it in that way – but if you score in the 96th minute with your goalkeeper and you score here at Celtic Park in the 93rd minute, the 2-1, those are the moments.
“We played there and had a very good chance in the 90 minutes, those are the moments if you only play six games that can make the difference. That is not making a difference for Man City or Bayern Munich or those kinds of clubs, because they are 20 per cent better than every team they face. They aren’t dependent on luck or bad luck. But if you are “a smaller side” like Celtic and us when it comes to money, you need a clear playing style and little bit of luck.”
Brendan Rodgers’ side now have one last chance to show they can compete at this level.
Tonight’s match may not have much on the line beyond a bit of pride and some UEFA prize money, but another defeat would only add to the club’s burdens at the moment.
A home win in the Champions League is long, long overdue. The team must show they can push beyond luck or misfortune and deliver a victory on their own terms.
In other news, Defensive absences, midfield call; Celtic team news and Predicted XI for Feyenoord test.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
