Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich’s recent Champions League goalfest sparked an interesting debate about the devastating impact of direct wing play in the modern game.
During PSG’s breathtaking 5-4 semi-final first-leg victory, the wide men were absolutely relentless, aggressively driving at the opposition and looking to beat their man at every single opportunity.
Switching to Celtic’s victory against Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday felt like tuning into a different sport, with Sebastian Tounekti’s frustrating performance out wide leaving a lot to be desired.
Pat Bonner didn’t hold back and stated the Celtic wide man did ‘nothing’ against Hibs, who were reduced to ten men after 20 minutes, and how he has changed since joining the club last summer.
“Tounekti was out there for a huge period, and nothing,” said Bonner. “Absolutely nothing.
“If you are a winger, and everything else is jammed up inside. That’s the areas where you have to almost make something happen – When I watched him when he came in first, he was doing that quite a bit. But now he has almost stopped doing it.”
Does Sebastian Tounekti have a future beyond this season at Celtic?
Pat Bonner compares Sebastian Tounekti to Daizen Maeda
Celtic face Rangers this Sunday, in a game that could have monumental bearings on who wins the Premiership title.
Given that Tounekti started against Hibs and was hooked off, it wouldn’t be a surprise if many fans are calling for him to be dropped again.
There is the option of starting James Forrest or Hyunjun Yang down that side. Or putting Daizen Maeda out there, and playing free-scoring Kelechi Iheanacho down the middle.
Either way, this isn’t a case of Tounekti can’t do it. Everyone remembers his lively debut against Kilmarnock when Brendan Rodgers was in charge.
But as Bonner rightfully pointed out on BBC Radio Scotland, the Tunisia international, who will be at this summer’s World Cup, has gone the other way since the months have passed him by.
Celtic’s legendary goalkeeper compared Tounekti to Maeda, and the one glaring difference between the two, when they are operating on the left flank.
“Maeda did create something (when he was shifted to the left-hand side against Hibs),” said Bonner. “He ran in behind, and the balls are played in for him. His final ball wasn’t the best, but at least he was running.
“Tounekti was out there for a huge period, and nothing. Absolutely nothing. If you are a winger, and everything else is jammed up inside. That’s the areas where you have to almost make something happen.
“Every time he got the ball, ‘I will go forward ten yards, and then I will check back on the inside and give it somebody else to go and do the hard work.’
“That’s not what you want from a winger. Rightly so, he was taken off – when I compare the profile of Tounekti and Maeda on the left-hand side.
“Yes, Tounekti has all the touches. He’s all right-footed. You can read him. All the defender has to do is stand on his right foot, force him down the line, but he is never going to go there because you know he wants to check back in on his right-hand side.
“If he goes the odd time, and it’s only the odd time, he has the ability to do it. When I watched him when he came in first, he was doing that quite a bit.
“But now he has almost stopped doing it. He doesn’t run without the ball, unless the ball comes to him, and that’s the other issue.”
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
