Celtic fell to a dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of city rivals Rangers this afternoon.
It was a nightmare derby display from the Hoops, who didn’t show up. Rangers wanted it more and came away deserved victors.
Brendan Rodgers’ team selection was always going to raise questions pre-match. Many fans thought Alex Valle deserved a start at left-back, but there were big talking points in midfield.
Indeed, Callum McGregor, Paulo Bernardo, and Reo Hatate all got the nod in the engine room.
Given he won the Man of the Match award in Celtic’s previous two games, Arne Engels’ omission from the lineup was rather surprising.
Celtic’s Arne Engels before the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
While the Belgian came on and was shamefully struck by a coin which was thrown by a Rangers supporter, he likely would’ve started, if it weren’t for illness.
Pre-match, Brendan Rodgers revealed that Engels was in the running to get the nod, only for sickness to see him start on the bench: “Arne Engels was not so well this morning”, he said (Sky Sports).
“That made it an easy decision to put Paulo in the team.”
Things wouldn’t have been any different had Celtic’s record signing started.
The Bhoys weren’t on it from the start and showed little heart or desire to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
They deservedly lost and will now regroup ahead of the visit of St. Mirren to Parkhead this Sunday.
