Any signs of early summer progress were swept away in Como as Celtic suffered a chastening 5-1 defeat to Ajax that laid bare a host of shortcomings with the new season looming.
While these games are often treated as fitness tests more than football contests, Celtic’s lack of structure and composure on the night couldn’t be ignored.
Ajax were sharper from the outset but it wasn’t until the 16th minute that they took the lead. Celtic responded quickly through Yang Hyun-jun, who finished well to level. That, however, was as good as it got. The match unravelled rapidly after the interval.
Within two minutes of the restart, Celtic were behind again. The damage escalated quickly, Ajax netted twice more before the 70-minute mark and capped things off with a fifth late on. Each goal seemed to peel back another layer of fragility, particularly on Celtic’s right flank, where the Dutch side continually found joy.
Rodgers used the second half to rotate his squad but to little effect. The team lacked control in midfield and was repeatedly overrun, with little resistance or recovery play on show.
With just one friendly remaining, against Al Ahli on Saturday, the chance to find rhythm before the SPFL opener against St Mirren is shrinking fast.
Celtic’s Arne Engels in action with St Mirren’s Marcus Fraser REUTERS/Scott Heppell
The transfer window has seen Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren arrive, but departures, including Nicolas Kuhn and Greg Taylor, have left gaps that haven’t yet been filled. The lack of available wingers, with Jota also out injured, is a real concern.
This isn’t a time for panic, but it is a wake-up call. The summer rebuild is incomplete, and if Celtic are to avoid another frustrating European campaign, decisive action is needed, and soon.
