The dust is settling after Celtic’s Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund, and there has been plenty of discussion surrounding the manner of their collapse.
Despite cautious optimism heading over to Germany, the Bhoys were hammered by Dortmund on Champions League matchday two and now need to lick their wounds ahead of challenges to come.
Fortuitously, Celtic have the chance to put some of that right against Ross County this weekend before the international break takes precedence over club football.
Post-match, Brendan Rodgers didn’t bow to questions about Celtic’s Champions League set-up in Dortmund, delivering a firm response to reporters when asked if he would adapt their game plan for future clashes against the European elite.
He replied: “Well, we always have to adapt, but sometimes the quality just breaks through that. So are we going to sit in and camp and wait and wait? No, we won’t do that.
“We play a way that allows us domestically to dominate. We know what’s going to be difficult at times for us to do that, but we still have to show our ability with the ball.”
The balance between bravery and mitigation for Celtic in Europe
There is a familiar tale for Celtic in the Champions League that has left fans feeling like they’ve gone and seen the same movie countless times.
Coming out on the wrong side against a superior team carries no shame, but when they regularly descend into the Bhoys being unable to stop the bleeding, people will sit up and take notice.
Fans routinely turn up to iconic venues and make themselves heard, but does there need to be a change in the way the reigning Scottish Premiership champions approach some of their European fixtures?
Caught in a strange position, Celtic is a club built on footballing bravery. The philosophy of not only winning but also claiming victory in style is embedded into this institution’s DNA.
However, it is becoming abundantly clear that this alone doesn’t always wash in the Champions League, at least in the last few years when pitted against distinguished outfits.
On matchday one, Celtic battered Slovan Bratislava by playing some excellent attacking football, showing themselves in a light the club hasn’t been seen in on the biggest stage for a number of years.
With Tuesday’s heavy defeat following that up, it is fair to acknowledge that supporters have seen the pendulum swing to both extremes in their opening two league phase matches.
While the search for answers gains airtime in footballing circles, there is a middle point that seems to fit the bill – balance.
Celtic’s Champions League happy medium
Although this may be preaching to the choir, from experience, most Celtic fans just want to see a level-headed frame of mind in the Champions League.
Nobody is saying Rodgers needs to abandon his football principles completely, but his side has to find a way to stay and suffer in games; it is that simple.
On paper, Celtic retained 47% possession against Dortmund and recorded 2.20 Expected Goals to the hosts’ 2.64. Nevertheless, their openness in counter-attacking scenarios left them susceptible to sucker punches.
If you don’t tighten up and manage games, you get punished. The Bhoys need to find a way to minimise opportunities for the opposition to capitalise on frailty, that is the key mission for Rodgers.
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