Kelvin Wilson has shared what he’s noticed about Celtic’s defence this season as Brendan Rodgers’ side sits with a 100% Scottish Premiership record.
With just one goal conceded, three overall domestically, Celtic suffered a Champions League humiliation against Borussia Dortmund where the Scottish champions shipped seven against the Bundesliga giants.
However, despite Celtic’s defenders being solid domestically, Kelvin Wilson has shared why he thinks the Hoops backline still has a difficult job in the Scottish Premiership.
Kelvin Wilson hails Celtic defence’s ‘concentration levels’
Wilson was part of the Celtic defence that famously beat Barcelona 2-1 in 2012 on a night when the Bhoys got battered against the La Liga giants.
And here, he explains why being a defender at Celtic is so difficult in Scotland despite having nothing to do in many of their domestic fixtures.
Wilson told The Herald Sport print edition page 6, “I watch Celtic now and I have watched them over the past few years and the recruitment has been excellent, especially defensively.
“When it comes to Celtic’s central defenders they might not have anything to do for 70 minutes of a domestic game then all of a sudden they will be called into action to make a last-gasp block or a saving tackle.
“The concentration levels for defenders at Celtic have to always be on point, especially in European games. The hardest part for any Celtic defender is to stay focused and switched on at all times in that arena.
“The levels are ratcheted up a notch in the Champions League because you are coming up against world-class players more often than not. Playing against top-level European clubs heightens the senses and you have to learn quickly how to cope.
“As a Celtic centre-back, you are fully expecting to be busier in a Champions League game than during any match in the Scottish Premiership. You need to remain switched on.”
Celtic’s league defensive record over the last five seasons
Celtic’s dominance over Scottish football in the last 24 years has been nothing short of remarkable. Sweeping all before them the Hoops had just one disappointing year out of the last twelve.
So here, 67 Hail Hail takes a look at how hard the Celtic defence has worked over the last five seasons and why the Hoops backline is not the only important position in the team.
- 2018/19: Conceded 20 goals scoring 77 winning a Treble
- 2019/20: Conceded 18 goals scoring 89 winning a Treble
- 2020/21: Conceded 29 goals scoring 78 winning no trophies
- 2021/22: Conceded 22 goals scoring 92 winning the league title and League Cup
- 2022/23: Conceded 34 goals scoring 114 winning a Treble
So whilst the Celtic defence is important, had the attackers not been on form last season and in 2020, then the club might not have enjoyed as much success as they had done over the years.
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