FORMER Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton reckons “someone is in for a battering” from his old club in Europe.
The Hoops slumped out of the Champions League following their 2-0 loss to RB Leipzig at Parkhead in midweek.
Two goals in the final 15 minutes put paid to their ambitions in Europe’s elite tournament and added a third defeat out of four outings after a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid on the opening day and a 3-1 reverse in the Red Bull Arena the previous week.
The solitary point secured came in Warsaw in the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk where Ange Postecoglou’s side yet again passed up a catalogue of opportunities, most notably squandered misses Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis in the last 10 minutes.
OH, GEE…Reo Hatate steers the ball goalwards to take a nick off Shakhtar Donetsk defender Artem Bondarenko for Celtic’s goal in the 1-1 draw in Warsaw.
It was the same story on Tuesday when the Japanese international screwed a header wide in exactly 53 seconds and Kyogo Furuhashi also failed to hit the target when presented with a clear sight of goal.
Adding to the misery, Matt O’Riley rifled a low shot against the base of the eft-hand upright and Greg Taylor clattered the rebound off the bar.
The incidents all took place in the whirlwind first-half with the home side, roared on by a capacity crowd yet again, going for the jugular.
It wasn’t enough, though, and the team are now battling for the consolation of a place in the Europa League with the visit of the Ukrainians a week on Tuesday and the final encounter against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on November 2.
Sutton is adamant someone will cop it against his former club.
PICK IT OUT…Filipe Jota steers the ball low into the corner for the Hoops’ strike in the Red Bull Arena.
The one-time England international forward said: “I’ve never seen Ange Postecoglou look so crestfallen as he did after losing to Leipzig.
“It was another defeat and we can debate about the way he sends his team out to play in these matches.
“I get that and I’ve said previously he should be commended for being positive. But he didn’t come out and say the Champions League was a bonus. He said he wants to compete.
“I also agree with him in that I don’t think Celtic are actually too far off from doing so. No-one likes losing, but there were ways to lose a football match. It’s no use just saying: ‘Oh, they are world class players’.
“Of course they are. How do you think they got to be world class players, by accepting defeat to players and teams who are meant to be better than them? That kind of talk has you beaten in the tunnel.”
HOLD ON…Giorgos Giakoumakis is hauled back by RB Leipzig defenders, but there’s no penalty-kick award and another chance is lost.
HEY, REF…Giorgos Giakoumakis makes his plea, but the match official isn’t listening.
Sutton, speaking in the Daily Record, added: “This campaign has been all about missed chances for Celtic. The stattos can go on about expected goals, but you can see with your own eyes. It’s not xG – it’s missing sitters.
“Celtic had 50-odd shots on goal and passed up half a dozen incredible opportunities across the four games and those are the margins at this level.
“it’s also why I agree Celtic are not a million miles away.
“No doubt, there is a lack of cutting edge to Postecoglou’s side right now at home and in Europe. They are not quite firing in front of goal. Dazien Maeda seems to have lost a bit of confidence, it’s not coming off for Kyogo at present and Liel Abada has gone off the boil a bit.
“They are a bit too nice at times – like the other night when Giorgos Giakoumakis was tugged in the box and should have been screaming for a penalty and demanding a VAR check.
“Yet there’s still a feeling someone is in for a battering from them at some point, regardless of the injury issues.”
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