Chris Sutton has leapt to Celtic’s defence amidst criticism over their Champions League campaign, highlighting that nine points from six games is a remarkable return given the club’s recent history in European competition.
The former Hoops striker has called out the negativity surrounding Celtic’s performances, suggesting that many are failing to recognise the significant progress made under Brendan Rodgers in this year’s group stage.
With two fixtures remaining in the group stage — a home clash with Young Boys and a trip to Aston Villa — Celtic have accumulated nine points, putting them in a strong position to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Sutton is adamant that this achievement shouldn’t be taken lightly: [RecordSport]
“I don’t know if people have forgotten where Celtic have come from, but I certainly didn’t expect them to have nine points after six games. It’s an excellent return so far and I fancy them to beat Young Boys in the next match, move onto 12 and be qualified by the time they go to Villa Park. That’d be a brilliant achievement, real progress.
“The home performance against RB Leipzig was a sign they could produce quality at the highest level and the two dug-out points in Bergamo and Zagreb says they have some backbone, too. Of course, domestic stuff is the bread and butter and very important, but the real guage of this season was all about progression in Europe.”
Celtic’s recent European campaigns have been littered with frustration, with the team often struggling to make an impact in the group stages. This season, however, Rodgers’ men have shown tangible improvement, displaying both quality and resilience.
The 3-1 victory over Leipzig at Parkhead demonstrated Celtic’s ability to take on and defeat high-calibre opposition. Meanwhile, gritty away draws against Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb highlighted a newfound resilience and game management that has often been lacking in previous campaigns.
Celtic’s next Champions League fixture — a home tie against Young Boys — presents an opportunity to secure progression before the final group-stage clash at Villa Park. A win against the Swiss side would see the Hoops move onto 12 points, potentially sealing their place in the knockout rounds.
