Even though Celtic moved to reinforce their attacking options during the January transfer window, finding a consistent, clinical edge up front remains a lingering issue at Parkhead.
Of those ongoing attacking woes, it is still tempting for some Celtic fans to look back at the summer and wonder what might have been if Kasper Dolberg had not chosen Ajax over Glasgow.
However, looking at the Danish international’s current situation in Amsterdam, missing out on the marquee number nine might not have been the disaster it initially seemed.
Dutch football legend Ronald de Boer recently delivered a stark assessment of the striker’s form in the Eredivisie, bluntly noting that Dolberg is ‘not really making a difference yet.’
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Kasper Dolberg’s struggles for goals at Ajax after Celtic summer links
Crucially, de Boer pinpointed a glaring tactical issue, warning that the forward is being completely starved of service and ‘often has to create it himself.’
That specific critique will sound painfully familiar to the Celtic Park faithful. Despite the new January arrivals, Celtic have frequently been plagued by a creative disconnect that leaves their forwards getting changed more than a baby’s nappy.
De Boer’s comments serve as a harsh reality check – dropping Dolberg into Celtic’s current system likely would have just replicated his Ajax struggles in Scotland.
“He’s doing good things for the team, although that hasn’t yet translated into scoring potential,” de Boer told Voetbalprimeur.
“But he’s also not really being put into play by the others. He often has to create it himself. As a result, he’s not really making a difference yet. If the team starts performing better, Dolberg will definitely perform as well.”
Dolberg’s numbers at Ajax this season
Celtic might be enduring a frustrating domestic campaign with a misfiring frontline, but a quick glance at Dolberg’s numbers in the Netherlands proves that Ajax are battling the same demons.
Since his high-profile deadline day return to the Netherlands in September, he has managed just five goals across 23 appearances in all competitions.
For a striker who netted 24 times for Anderlecht last season, his return of just three league goals is a glaring reflection of the tactical disconnect at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Just like Celtic, the Dutch giants are struggling to consistently break down defences, produce 90-minute performances or provide their marquee number nine with adequate service in the penalty box.
The reality is that both heavyweights are currently toiling with identical creative voids.
- Dolberg’s games at Ajax this season: 23
- Goals: 5
- Assists: 2
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