Gustaf Lagerbielke’s World Cup appears to have accidentally reopened the question about his time at Celtic most fans probably thought had already been answered.
The Sweden defender left Celtic for Braga last summer but his stats at this year’s World Cup make that decision to sell look harder to defend.
Sweden have conceded seven goals and failed to keep a clean sheet, so nobody should pretend Lagerbielke has not had a part to play in that.
However, his own numbers tell a much bigger story than Sweden’s defensive difficulties at the World Cup.
Should Gustaf Lagerbielke have been given more of a chance at Celtic?
Now playing for Sweden at the World Cup…🌎
Celtic should look beyond Sweden’s defensive record
Lagerbielke had his critics at Celtic but at this summer’s World Cup, the Sweden defender has shone as his stats from Fotmob show.
- 11 tackles
- 22 defensive contributions
- Only dribbled past once
- 204 touches
- 126 successful passes at 78.8%
- 21 duels won at 63.6%
- 9 clearances
- xG against while on the pitch of 4.09, despite Sweden conceding seven goals
Those stats do not prove Celtic sold a brilliant defender. But they do show a player who can compete against some of the world’s best players.
Celtic have watched Lagerbielke rebuild his form
Lagerbielke never got a proper go at it at Celtic, but his career has not gone backwards since leaving.
A loan at Twente helped rebuild his reputation and confidence before he completed a permanent move to Braga.
Playing every week has transformed Lagerbielke. Sweden are picking him because they believe he can perform at this level. Celtic never gave him a chance to even get anywhere near that point.
Celtic can still learn from the Lagerbielke call
Nobody knows whether Lagerbielke would have made it at Celtic and nobody can say he was the finished article when he left either.
Centre-backs rarely hit their best form after a handful of appearances.
Lagerbielke’s World Cup has not changed what happened at Celtic, but it has made the debate around his exit harder to ignore.
The Lagerbielke who left Celtic isn’t the Lagerbielke Sweden keep picking.
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