Celtic winger Marco Tilio reminded everyone of his quality on Friday morning with a standout performance for Melbourne City in their 3-0 semi-final first leg win over Western United. The Australian winger, currently on loan from the Hoops, provided an assist and caused problems throughout in a match that puts Melbourne firmly in control ahead of the return leg at home.
The winger, who played just 27 minutes for Celtic after struggling with injuries and falling out of favour under Brendan Rodgers, is set to return to the Hoops at the end of the A-League campaign. Tilio himself believes he’s returned to Melbourne a more complete footballer after a turbulent spell in Scotland.
He said: (A-Leagues), “If I’m being completely honest, I think I’m in a better position now than what I was back then.
“I’ve matured a lot in the last couple of years.
“I had my first injury going over to Scotland, and pretty much ridden all those waves, and here I am now.
“I feel more mature. I feel more a complete player now, and understanding of the game a lot better.”
Tilio initially joined Celtic amid high expectations following a successful spell with Melbourne, where he helped the club reach the A-League Grand Final. However, a pre-season injury derailed his early progress, and with Celtic well-stocked in the wide areas – including the likes of Jota, Yang Hyun-jun, Nicolas Kuhn, and James Forrest – Tilio has found game time hard to come by in Glasgow.
Now, Celtic face a decision. Do they give Tilio a fresh opportunity next season or look to move him on permanently? His performances back in Australia suggest he’s ready to compete at a higher level, but whether that’s in green and white remains to be seen.
With the second leg of the semi-final set for Saturday, Tilio has another chance to strengthen his case. Melbourne are eyeing another Grand Final appearance, and the winger looks eager to play a massive role in that push.
