Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has questioned the club’s recruitment since Ange Postecoglou’s departure in 2023, following the 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday. Sutton pointed out that the majority of Celtic’s starting XI were still players brought in by Ange, despite it being nearly two full seasons since he left the club.

It’s a fair observation. Even with Brendan Rodgers back at the helm and four transfer windows behind him, many of the key players in the side remain from the Postecoglou era—Cameron Carter-Vickers, Daizen Maeda, and Reo Hatate among them.

Sutton’s view is that the core of the team that went to Ibrox and got a result has been carried over from Ange’s time, with new arrivals struggling to make the same kind of impact

Since Postecoglou moved to Spurs in the summer of 2023, Celtic’s recruitment has come under increasing scrutiny. While a number of signings have been made, a couple have become regular starters or standout performers.

He said: (RecordSport), “You look at that team from Sunday and the vast majority were signed by Postecoglou. That’s not a slate on any one or on recruitment, it’s just they are the strongest players in the squad.

“But the same guys have been doing it for a number of years and the squad will need freshened up. That’s how you maintain the determination and drive to keep being successful.“

Ange’s time at Celtic was marked by some excellent signings that helped the team become dominant again in Scotland. Players like Kyogo, Reo Hatate, and Daizen Maeda, all brought in by Ange, became key players straight away. They helped Celtic play exciting football and win titles. Ange’s talent for finding quality players, especially from Japan, left a strong legacy at the club.

With Brendan Rodgers in charge, he will want to continue putting his own stamp on the team. While he has continued Celtic’s success in Scotland, Rodgers will be keen to make changes. He’ll likely look to bring in new players to improve the squad next season and help the team do even better in Europe. With Celtic already strong domestically, the next step is to strengthen the squad so they can make a bigger impact in the Champions League.

Rodgers will know that while Celtic are doing well in Scotland, they need to improve in Europe. To be competitive at that level, the team needs to bring in players who can perform at the top level. This summer, Rodgers will have a chance to make those changes. He’ll be looking to add the right players to help Celtic keep winning in Scotland and do better in Europe next season.