The ‘different thing’ Peter Grant noticed about Celtic from last season in win vs St Mirren

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Celtic have had a brilliant start to the season with three comfortable wins in the Scottish Premiership and making progress in the League Cup.

Brendan Rodgers’ team has taken their excellent US Tour form into the new season and is playing a style of intense attacking football akin to what the Celtic fans saw under Ange Postecoglou.

However, there is a big difference in the style of play from last season and former Celtic hero, Peter Grant, has noticed something ‘different’ about Rodgers’ team from what he saw of them in the double-winning year.

Grant lauds ‘outstanding’ Celtic

Grant was really impressed with how Celtic handled St Mirren without Matt O’Riley and praised the team for their work off the ball.

Grant told BBC Radio Scotland, “The play in the first half was scintillating at times. Big players playing really, really well. They know where each other is, as we spoke about.

“It was interesting to see how Bernardo came in and did exceptionally well, especially in the first half, as I said.

“But they were outstanding all over the pitch.” But yet again how good they were without the ball.”

Grant pinpoints the ‘different thing’ Celtic have added

The high intensity that Celtic play means that they are a fast attacking unit. However, Grant believes that when they lose possession, Rodgers’ team keep that intensity in the press to win the ball back which is what the team seemed to be lacking last season.

Grant continued, “But yet again how good they were without the ball. They’re getting it back, their effort and their commitment to try and do that.

“And I think that’s the different thing that they’ve added this year. I think they are winning the ball much quicker, which allows them to stay in the opposition’s half.

“It allows them to keep the ball away from their own area of the pitch, so they don’t make defensive mistakes.

“And in saying that, I thought the two centre-backs were excellent. They dealt with everything that came forward, and especially trying conditions.”

There is no doubt that the football the Celtic fans are witnessing from their team is different from last season and, to be fair to Brendan Rodgers, a lot of that form from last season was down to the horrendous injury issues the Hoops boss had to deal with.

But with a full complement of players and a pre-season under their belt, Celtic are looking sharp, dangerous and even at this stage of the season (dare I say it), unstoppable.

With the Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park next weekend, Rodgers has the opportunity to put a marker down with a win over Rangers and what a confidence boost that would be for the Bhoys.