When it comes the Celtic fitness standards, Ange Postecoglou needs to avoid the Neil Lennon pitfalls of 2020.
Lennon got off on the wrong foot last term after his Champions League exit to Ferencvaros. Many Celtic supporters were left infuriated by his decision to field no strikers at home to a team of considerably less quality.
Speaking at the time, the then Celtic boss stated that he had no choice because all four of his centre-forwards were unfit. He did the exact same days later in our fourth league match against Motherwell. This was on August 30th [The Scotsman].
It was a massive source of frustration. How could we have four strikers at the football club – three of whom took part in our own pre-season, yet none were fit? It was even more baffling considering Patryk Klimala and Albian Ajeti were on the bench in both games.
These were the kind of moments that defined Lennon last season. And as we get cracking on a fresh pre-season training camp in Wales this week, it’s something Ange Postecoglou must ensure doesn’t happen this season.
Celtic fitness concerns can’t be a talking point in two months; Ange Postecoglou must take note
There was no reason for Celtic to be underprepared fitness-wise for the UCL qualifiers last season. We had five pre-season matches, with three of those in France. Odsonne Edouard and Patryk Klimala were part of those. Leigh Griffiths, meanwhile, featured in pre-season matches back in Scotland before the campaign began.
Ajeti you could understand a touch considering he didn’t have a pre-season with West Ham before he signed. But even then, you were left questioning why we were signing players who couldn’t play in Europe at the time.
Postecoglou needs to avoid all of this kind of nonsense this summer. Whoever he signs before the July 15th UEFA registration deadline for our game against Midtjylland need to be fit. We need to be signing players who can come in and don’t need six weeks to get up to speed.
Players who are part of our pre-season training camp from the beginning can’t go mysteriously missing due to fitness concerns two months down the line. We can’t be forced to play no players in a certain area because of questionable fitness management.
These are issues that would throw Celtic fans straight back to last season. Issues that Postecoglou needs to be briefed on. Issues that he needs to avoid replicating at all costs.
Pre-season is a time for excitement and a fresh start. Even more imperative then not to repeat the same mistakes of the past.
In other news, how to watch the UEFA Women’s Champions League draw as Celtic get set for a historic tie.
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