Celtic have made a flying start domestically, though they will also be motivated to put themselves firmly in contention to progress from the Champions League league phase.
Last weekend, the Bhoys’ late victory over Ross County retained their place at the top of the Scottish Premiership and brought the curtain down on a week that contained mixed fortunes.
After Celtic’s 7-1 Champions League defeat in Dortmund, there have been questions from some regarding whether the margin can be read into regarding their wider prospects of progression.
For some, it was just a bad day at the office. In other circles, there are people that think there are more symptomatic elements to the result.
Either way, Brendan Rodgers vowed Celtic won’t change their Champions League approach to any drastic degree. Despite sentiments suggesting that could be an option, let the manager do the talking on this one.
Evaluating the Bhoys’ European hopes, Michael Stewart thinks they may need to address a certain position to evolve on the continent.
Michael Stewart on the Celtic wide areas
Speaking on the Scottish Football Social Club, Stewart pointed to the wide areas as a position he feels Celtic may need ‘an extra little bit of something’ in to give them more authority in the Champions League.
He explained: “I stand by what I was saying and I’m not singling Nicolas Kuhn out, I’m standing by what I was saying in regards to that wide area. It’s the one position where I feel Celtic could really do with getting, not reinforcements, but an extra little bit of something out there.
“You look at Maeda on the other side, the intensity and the power that he brings, and he can drive a team forward. In Europe, in particular, you need ball carriers; you need people who can beat somebody one-vs-one and drive at teams. Especially, when you’re talking about away from home like Celtic were against Borussia Dortmund.
“Nicolas Kuhn doesn’t do that for me, I don’t think he’s powerful enough to drop the shoulder and drive past a top-class defender, whereas Maeda is maybe technically not as good but he has that power. I just think if they could find something else on the other side, it would benefit them.”
Nicolas Kuhn can deliver for Celtic in the Champions League
Although Stewart’s thoughts aren’t filled with any real cynicism and appear to be merely a personal opinion, Nicolas Kuhn has shown himself time and time again for Celtic this season, so his observation does feel a tad harsh.
With five goals and eight assists in ten appearances, the German winger’s tally includes a set-up in the Hoops’ dominant victory over Slovan Bratislava in their Champions League opener last month.
Admittedly, he didn’t have his best night in Dortmund, but neither did anyone really for Celtic on a night where a top-class outfit seized the initiative early on and never looked back.
Football is all about opinions, and only the true course of time reflects their accuracy. One thing is for sure: supporters of the Bhoys only have good things to say about Kuhn amid his flying start to the campaign.
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