Celtic are 'little bit broken' - but is change of shape 'worth risking'?

After last Sunday’s drubbing at Ibrox, Celtic needed a reaction against Ferencvaros in the Europa League. What they got was another timid defeat as the Hungarian outfit secured a deserved 3-1 win.

The concessions were alarmingly easy from a Celtic perspective and after a lively start, they retreated into their shells.

Empty seats and boos met the final whistle and things don’t get any easier for Martin O’Neill’s side. They host Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

“It’s a little bit broken, a little bit nervy, but we have to fight our way through this,” captain Callum McGregor said.

“The only way through it is hard work. It’s a tough period. You can see how quickly it comes down on top of you. It’s a relatively new group, so we have to learn. You don’t get much leeway.

“The ultimate test at the weekend is that we have to win the game. It’s about staying together, putting one foot in front of another and we just need another bit of luck.”

Ferencvaros’ opener came as Bamidele Yusuf was allowed to cut inside from the right flank and his cross-cum-shot deflected into the far corner off Liam Scales.

Celtic drew level through Mika Baur’s tidy finish, but seconds before half-time, the visitors hit the front again.

They won possession back in the Celtic half, Yusuf twisted Kieran Tierney inside-out before squaring to Kristoffer Zachariassen, who cleverly flicked past Viljami Sinisalo despite being closely marked by both Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Former Celtic captain and manager Neil Lennon called it a “comedy of errors”.

In an attempt to wrestle back momentum, O’Neill threw on club-record signing Kasper Hogh at half-time and switched to a 4-4-2 system, but it was a forgotten former Celtic man who delivered a telling blow soon after.

Daniel Arzani made just two appearances during his time in Glasgow, picking up a severe knee injury on his debut. One pass from Yusuf opened Celtic up and Arzani cut inside Carter-Vickers before unleashing a fine strike into the far top corner.

At no stage did it look like Celtic would get back in the game and Ferencvaros managed the remainder of the contest to take all three points.

“Tonight was I think a European lesson for us in many aspects,” O’Neill said. “We’ll get ourselves together. We need to re-energise ourselves as much as anything else.

“When we have decent possession of the ball, just don’t give it away. But also I think taking a few risks as well too – risks in the proper areas of the field.”

Is going 4-4-2 a risk worth taking?

Every time there was a backwards pass, groans rang out from the Celtic Park stands. Too often simple passes went astray and forward balls failed to stick.

O’Neill’s tactics and team selection were questioned after the weekend. He responded defensively pre-match when asked about the four changes he made on Thursday, including a return in goal for Sinisalo.

That spiky interview with TNT Sports was perhaps indicative of the pressure he is now under, but Petrov – who played under O’Neill for five years – does not recognise his former manager’s influence on this team.

“It’s not Martin O’Neill’s style,” Petrov said. “It’s too slow at the moment. If you ask me honestly if that’s the style Martin O’Neill plays, definitely not.

“When you have your centre-backs making more passes than your midfielders, you can’t dominate. Celtic were playing safe. When did Celtic start playing with fear?”

Duran had just eight touches in the first half. Hogh huffed and puffed for little reward in the second. Both also struggled to get into the game against Rangers.

“Kasper Hogh, he’s 100 miles an hour. Sometimes you need to relax and have a clear mind,” Petrov added. “He tried to do everything. Celtic are rushing everything.”

O’Neill hinted his second-half change of shape – going to a midfielder four with two strikers – might also be something he employs on Sunday as he searches for a fix and a way of getting both Duran and Hogh in their favoured positions.

“The club has been used to 4-3-3 for quite some considerable time for quite a number of years as well,” he said. “If we’re going to get the best out of our best players then we’re gong to have to find another way.

“We went 4-4-2 in the second half. That deprives you for the extra player in the middle of the field but it was worth risking.”

What are the fans saying?

Alexander: The club needs a full overhaul, very disappointing results.

Mark: O’Neill, Maloney and Fotheringham’s record in our past three big ties? P-3, W-0, L-3, F-2, A-11. Time to go. We need a REAL management team – not clueless stooges for the board!

Neil: Celtic should double Neil Lennon’s salary and get him in to coach this team and tighten them up.

Mark: Very disappointing night. No desire shown. I’m dreading Sunday!

Jim: McGregor is done no legs negative passing every ball

Danny: Disappointing loss tonight, again. There seems to be a mentality problem with the team. We look hesitant, shaky and inexperienced, constantly getting outclassed by opponents with sides no better than our own. Celtic Park used to be a place that teams feared, now European teams must be licking their lips seeing us in their fixtures. Onto Sunday we go :/

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