Celtic had to summon their collective spirit against Atalanta to bring home a hard-earned Champions League point that required maximum effort from everyone involved.
Before heading to Bergamo, trepidation from some would’ve been understandable amid a heavy defeat for the Bhoys in Dortmund on matchday two earlier this month.
Questions also existed about how Celtic would set his side up for the clash, but it is fair to say Brendan Rodgers bit back at his critics after setting his stall out and successfully claiming a point in difficult surroundings.
Proving a point against the Europa League holders, the Bhoys lay it all on the line at Gewiss Stadium, with Rodgers utilising his full quota of five substitutes to ensure fresh legs were present in the latter stages.
Whether you look at the starters or those who came in and made a cameo impression, everyone to a man stood up and was counted for Celtic.
Offering his verdict on proceedings, James McFadden has pinpointed one of the reasons why he felt the reigning Scottish champions were able to get a foothold on Italian shores.
James McFadden on Adam Idah being central to Celtic ‘approach’
Speaking after the match, McFadden highlighted Adam Idah’s presence in attack as a central reason behind why Celtic were able to give themselves a platform to claim a Champions League point in Bergamo.
He stated [Sportsound]: “With playing Adam Idah, there was more of using the striker as a focal point, which doesn’t happen very often with Celtic.
“We’ve seen it before where Kyogo barely touches the ball, but he scores goals because the team around him functions in a way that he has to get his chances in the box, which is normal.
“A few times in the first-half, it was clipped up to Adam Idah. He was able to hold the ball in and take that pressure off if you like. When you make the change, it’s a different approach, Kyogo’s wanting to go and run in-behind and be that kind of elusive striker that he is, but I think there was a change.
“I don’t think there was a total abandonment of what he believed in because you can be aggressive without the ball and how your structure is and how you’re willing to go and defend and then you can still offer that threat on the counter, which they did at times, but maybe not as often as they would’ve liked or planned for.
“That’s the way the game goes, I think the biggest thing is, adapting to what is happening in the game.”
Adam Idah’s selfless shift against Atalanta
Realistically, it was never going to be a night where Celtic had many clear-cut sights of goal, but Idah did his best through the middle on his own to support his side’s general play.
Stat-trackers Fotmob note that the Irishman won three duels throughout the contest. He also completed 14 of his 19 attempted passes, usually with his back to goal.
As proceedings wore on, the Irishman also drifted further back to dig in defensively for his side, making one clearance and another headed clearance before Kyogo Furuhashi replaced him.
On a night where everyone needed to make sacrifices, Idah’s role cannot be understated as he allowed Celtic to have a target when alleviating pressure, something that you don’t say too often about a Bhoys’ striker.
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