Celtic secured a domestic double last season as Brendan Rodgers kept his promise made in the summer of 2023.
Rodgers told fans upon his second coming that he’d see them all lining the Celtic Way at Parkhead in May to celebrate another Premiership title victory.
That proved to be the case as Celtic stormed their way to the league title and left closest challengers Rangers in their wake.
The Hoops also lifted the Scottish Cup to pile more misery on Rangers as Adam Idah’s late winner at Hampden proved decisive in the end.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing, despite the success. Celtic lost to Kilmarnock early in the Premier Sports Cup campaign and finished last in Group E of the Champions League.
That is in stark contrast to this season with Celtic already having wrapped up the League Cup in December while progressing to the knockout phase play-offs in the Champions League.
Mjallby on more ‘balanced’ Celtic this season
Former Celtic defender and assistant manager Johan Mjallby recognises this improvement from last year despite 2023/24 turning out to be a double-winning campaign.
Having watched Celtic this season, the big Swede thinks Rodgers is showing much more balance in his tactics, particularly in Europe when last season, things were probably too gung-ho.
Against Atalanta this season, Celtic responded to their 7-1 humiliation against Borussia Dortmund by earning a fantastic 0-0 draw.
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini admitted the Bhoys ‘irritated’ the Serie A side and that perhaps sums up what Mjallby is trying to explain.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Warm-Up, Mjallby said of Celtic: “The biggest difference for me from last season is the balance is much better. I think the balance is much better, they know when to attack.
“In the past, they were just pressing all the time. They were just putting their heads down and just pressing, pressing, pressing. And then they got caught out sometimes.
“But I think especially, the back four has been much more solid this season and that’s why – especially in Europe where they need to defend a wee bit more – it’s been much better.”
Rodgers was praised for more pragmatic Celtic approach
Back in December, talkSPORT mouthpiece Simon Jordan actually had something nice to say about Celtic in the Champions League.
Jordan credited Rodgers for changing his tactics on the biggest stage despite the Northern Irishman confirming after the Dortmund disaster that he wouldn’t alter his approach.
But the Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb results, according to Jordan, proved that. The radio pundit said: “People were questioning Brendan Rodgers about his tactics and how he wouldn’t change the way that they played, and they did.
“They went away (against Atalanta), did well and got a draw. Then against Dinamo Zagreb, I thought it was a decent result.
“We have to also give some context in some of the teams they have played in the past. The fact that they have gone away from home now in this tournament and they have gotten very credible points.
“I think is just as telling as where they are improving and this format has improved them ideally.”
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