Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has become an unlikely defender of Brendan Rodgers and Celtic following their 7-1 thrashing by Borussia Dortmund in Germany. The outspoken pundit has a lot to say on Celtic and the Scottish game at times and not always positive.
The heavy defeat has once again raised concerns about Celtic’s approach in European competitions, with critics calling for a tactical shift as the Hoops face more elite opponents.
Celtic’s struggles in Europe, particularly in away fixtures, have seen pundits lament the frequency of heavy losses. Many believe these results are becoming “predictable” due to the team’s brave but ultimately flawed tactics when facing higher-calibre opposition. Jordan, however, believes the backlash towards Rodgers and his side might be overblown.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan highlighted the significant financial disparity between Celtic and European powerhouses like Dortmund, who generate vastly more revenue than the Scottish champions. “Dortmund’s turnover is 150-200 million pounds a year, while Celtic’s is around 80 million,” Jordan explained. “You can’t expect them to compete on the same level.”
Jordan compared Celtic’s defeat to similar heavy losses suffered by big Premier League clubs in the past, such as Arsenal’s 8-2 loss to Manchester United and United’s 6-3 drubbing by Southampton. “It happens. Maybe Celtic were too brave for their own good,” Jordan added, emphasising how critical mistakes quickly snowballed in the match.
Despite the scale of the defeat, Jordan remains confident in Brendan Rodgers’ ability to bounce back, citing the Irishman’s quality as a coach. “Brendan Rodgers is a good coach, and he’ll pivot off the back of this and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
Looking ahead, Celtic will need to adjust their game plan before their next European outing against Atalanta, with many calling for a more pragmatic and disciplined approach to avoid a repeat of this painful result. For those following the Europa League closely, including matches like Celtic vs Atalanta, you can keep an eye on the action and odds at https://sportbet.one/sports/soccer/europe-uefa-europa-league.
