If you asked Siri to define Celtic Football Club, the answer would be to look at the Hoops’ last two results.
Ange Postecoglou has started life at Parkhead by ensuring that his team plays positive football and that was in evidence when the Bhoys took to the pitch in Seville last Thursday.
Celtic raced into a two-goal advantage against Real Betis and looked a threat every time they ventured forward. However, their defence was once again their undoing as they lost 4-3.
With that game in mind, you’d have backed the Bhoys to score a similar amount or even more when they travelled to Almondvale to face the team sitting rock bottom of the Premiership with just a solitary point; Livingston.
Yet, in classic Celtic style, they were on the end of a narrow defeat as they lost 1-0.
It was Postecoglou’s worst result of the season as his side, devoid of Callum McGregor and Kyogo Furuhashi, struggled to create many openings.
Boli Bolingoli returned to the team at left-back, while Liel Abada was back after missing the Europa League clash for religious reasons.
His return wasn’t exactly profitable as the Hoops were left crying out for more swagger and cutting edge in the final third. Kyogo has so often brought that to Celtic this season, and in his absence, Albian Ajeti has coped well.
Coming into the fixture today, the Swiss striker had scored three goals in two games, but this performance was one which encapsulated his first season at Parkhead, when he found the net just six times in 30 appearances.
Ajeti was isolated up front with a lack of service, but when he did get the ball, he didn’t do much with it. He squandered two golden opportunities in the second half, heading wide from a set-piece and then missing a chance after turning inside the area.
On another day the Swiss forward might have scored, but his inability to do on this occasion cost his team.
Ajeti is solid at holding up the ball but predominantly relies on his poaching instinct to find the back of the net. He did so to devastating effect against Betis a few days ago, but up against a low block today, he was anonymous when leading the line.
The former West Ham striker was nowhere to be seen as he made just five passes – all of which were completed – throughout the 90 minutes.
On top of that, he had fewer touches (15) than goalkeeper Joe Hart (40) who was a spectator for large parts of the encounter.
If Ajeti really wants to stake his claim, then he’ll have to do better than he did on Sunday afternoon.
When the going got tough, he didn’t stand up and volunteer to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. He was rarely involved in anything positive and missed a vital opportunity to beat the goalkeeper, much to Celtic’s cost.
AND in other news, £6k-p/w gem has seen his value rise by 900% after leaving Celtic, he’s “very unique”…
