Celtic’s paradox-filled season will illustrate itself on Saturday amidst jubilant commemorations during the season’s final home match. The football club has earned its status as Scotland’s reigning champions with an impressive 12th win in 13 seasons, hammering home their unwavering dominance. This feat, however, seemed marred by improbability back in mid-December when the team fell to Hearts and faced the acerbic vitriol from the spectators, directed towards the club’s executives. The team had also unceremoniously crashed out of Europe.
Current manager Brendan Rodgers stands firm in his belief that his team were positioned to find their stride as recovering players returned to the field – a fair point. Rodgers’ sharper disposition has served to entertain, as he defends his perceived novice treatment since reassuming control of Celtic for a second spell. He’s had his fair share of confrontation, most notably his well-received rebuttals against the constant criticisms of Celtic’s misfortunes.
The Northern Irish manager drew criticism for showing little appreciation to those who praised him as Celtic’s best managerial choice after Ange Postecoglou’s sudden departure for Tottenham. A vocal fraction of Celtic’s fanbase voiced their discontent explicitly.
Ironically, in spite of his claims of indifference to public opinion about Celtic, Rodgers took umbrage at a commentator’s claim that he was ‘going through the motions’. Furthermore, he caused a stir when he boldly opted to watch Tottenham face Manchester City over a Rangers vs Dundee match, a move many viewed as a slight against his current work environment while also appearing calculated.
Rodgers has consistently derided the premature dismissal of his squad before the season’s end yet he recently alluded to a challenging six-month period just last Tuesday. He also went so far as to reprimand society at large following an awkward exchange with a female BBC correspondent.
The gentle show of aggression doesn’t seem to fit the amicable 51-year-old, ignoring the context surrounding him. He’s labelled the current season the most demanding he’s ever faced in his extensive managerial career. Celtic has often disappointed with a lacklustre performance this season, with a notable instance in April’s error-riddled Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. Eventually, they emerged victorious in the penalty shoot-out.
Rodgers raised the call for more “fearlessness” in the January transfer window. He was likewise the one critiquing the “ineptitude” of game referees after a defeat at Hearts. Despite benefiting from a bad decision, Celtic missed the consequential penalty kick. Rodgers appeared perplexed by the following actions taken by the Scottish FA. The game, held on 3rd of March, marked Celtic’s last loss. The players’ persistency and refusal to cede the league to their solitary competitors are extremely commendable. Neither the players nor the management have ever been accused of poor attitude. They consistently outperform Rangers in this respect.
Still, the Premiership was bagged in spite of the squad, not because of it. Unless significant changes are made, which Celtic can afford and Rodgers will likely insist on, more trouble is on the horizon in Europe. It would not be surprising if mid-field star Matt O’Riley is enticed by a bigger club this summer. James Forrest came back from injury to play a crucial role in the latter part of the season. Rodgers often sings Forrest’s praises, having started him in two domestic games prior to late April.
To encapsulate this peculiar phase, Rodgers criticised Reo Hatate following the recent Old Firm win. The manager unsolicitedly pointed out Hatate’s tendency to lose possession, despite him being viewed as a key player normally.
This season has seen dire standards in Scottish football, but this is not to belittle Celtic, Scotland’s top team under a truly premier class manager. Although they’ve done well domestically there needs to be a broader view for the club to progress further. Given Celtic’s bank balance which will be further boosted by next season’s Champion’s League earnings, there is no excuse for not raising the game in the coming summer, potentially by investing in several players costing over £5 million.
Philippe Clement, it appears, has swiftly realised that he’s managing an unpredictable set of footballers with Rangers FC. Their recent defeat at Celtic Park marked their seventh in the Premiership, an outrageous statistic for a team aspiring for championship glory. By comparison, Kilmarnock has only been bested twice more at this stage.
The victorious streak of the Rangers in the Covid-impacted season is increasingly feeling like an exception as opposed to the norm. In fact, if rumour is to be believed, it might serve Rangers well should Steven Gerrard decide to recruit from their 2020-21 squad to Saudi Arabia.
Clement cannot escape criticism after Rangers’ spectacular failure in consecutive matches against Ross County and Dundee, squandering a reachable championship. His Belgian-led football is hardly inspiring. Yet, Clement took the helm amidst the turbulent stew of perennial underperformers and uninspiring fresh faces in the aftermath of Michael Beale’s abrupt departure.
Clement has mentioned his intention for a substantial overhaul this summer, a dire necessity. But Beale had made and executed the identical promise. It seems like a repetitive pattern of new faces at Ibrox Stadium. A Scottish Cup final victory against Celtic is desperately needed by Clement to shift the club’s atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Celtic finds itself in an admirable position, where that specific event carries little weight, a fact that should not deter them from being the strong favourites at Hampden. Rodgers should take a moment to savour his position: once again, he lords over all that lay before him.
– Guardian