Chris Sutton raised a few eyebrows when discussing former Celtic left-back Marcelo Saracchi and current Hoops defender Kieran Tierney.
Sutton was asked who was the better player for Celtic this season between both fullbacks and the stats don’t fully back him up.
Looking at the numbers, Sutton’s argument has some statistical support. However, the full picture still favours Tierney.
Kieran Tierney has been one of Celtic’s best players this season…
Agree or disagree?
Chris Sutton’s Celtic claim about Marcelo Saracchi is supported by these numbers
When asked to compare both players, Sutton made the case for Saracchi on The Warm-Up.
The Celtic legend said, “”He’s probably a better footballer than Kieran Tierney, in terms of when he goes into that inverted role, he has better awareness of of what’s around.
“But then he’s not as good a one to one one v one defender as as Tierney.”
Saracchi’s possession numbers are superior in several key areas:
- 87.8% pass completion vs Tierney’s 82.0%
- 50.9% long-ball accuracy vs 37.0%
- 61.5% dribble success rate vs 56.0%
- Dispossessed once all season vs Tierney’s 10 times
Those figures suggest a player who is comfortable receiving possession in tight areas and retaining the ball under pressure.
That is particularly relevant when discussing the inverted full-back role Sutton referenced. Modern full-backs stepping into midfield are often judged on decision-making, ball retention and circulation rather than overlapping runs.
Kieran Tierney’s Celtic statistics back up Chris Sutton’s defensive point
Sutton also argued that Saracchi is not as strong as Tierney in one-v-one situations.
- 58.0% duel success vs Saracchi’s 52.7%
- 215 defensive contributions vs 38
- 58 tackles vs 10
- 107 recoveries vs 47
- 133 clearances vs 19
The statistics strongly support Sutton’s view that Tierney is the better defender.
Where the Celtic comparison falls short
The biggest problem for the “better footballer” argument is Tierney’s attacking output.
- 8 assists vs 2
- 53 chances created vs 14
- 12 big chances created vs 3
- 67 touches in the opposition box vs 26
Saracchi may be the cleaner passer, but Tierney contributes significantly more at both ends of the pitch.
The numbers support Sutton’s belief that Saracchi is technically impressive and perhaps better suited to an inverted role. They also support his claim that Tierney is the stronger defender.
What they do not clearly support is the idea that Saracchi is the better all-round footballer. Tierney’s attacking production and defensive output remain on a different level, which helps explain why Celtic were so keen to bring him back to Parkhead.
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