By AIDAN CONNOR
In the first of a new regular series, Aidan Connor analyses Celtic’s performances and results for the month of August. The first seven matches of the season included the start of our Premiership campaign, the start of our league cup defence, a Glasgow derby and a disappointing Champions League qualifier.
GAME ONE – Celtic 1-0 St Mirren – SPFL
The season began with a familiar sight at Celtic Park — flag day, emotions high, and expectations even higher. The backdrop was fittingly heavy, with tributes to Lisbon Lions John Clark and John Fallon before Paul McStay unfurled the championship flag. But once the pageantry faded, the football told a more complicated story. The narrative was recognisable from the very first whistle – command without the lethal touch. With only six attempts on goal and three rattling the woodwork, Celtic’s 76% possession and 13 total shots compared to St Mirren’s 4 demonstrated their superiority. Due to their disciplined defence and two tight banks of four, St Mirren kept Celtic’s threat to half-chances until the very end.
Naturally, Adam Idah was the centre of attention. The Irishman, who was given the starting position, showed promise but lacked the instinct for a strike that Celtic supporters so desperately want. He was half a step behind the play twice: once when Reo Hatate’s deflected attempt landed invitingly in the box and again when Callum McGregor’s intense drive spilt loose. A natural poacher could have changed the outcome in both cases. Rather, Idah struggled to establish himself and was frequently caught offside, casting doubt on his long-term ability to lead the line. Both of Daizen Maeda’s gilt-edged chances went begging, and Benjamin Nygren’s best shot was pushed onto the post. James Forrest’s brief appearance demonstrated the impact that directness and experience can have. Forrest ran at defenders with purpose, stretching the St Mirren backline and making room for others, in contrast to Yang, who all too frequently slowed play by cutting inside.
The stark disparity encapsulated Celtic’s larger offensive problem – an abundance of possession but insufficient penetration. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales were a formidable presence at the back, and Kieran Tierney’s comeback was thunderously greeted. Down the left, Tierney displayed glimmers of his former self before withdrawing shortly after the hour. Rodgers subsequently confirmed that his fitness is being closely monitored. This was not a vintage Celtic performance, but perhaps it didn’t need to be. Opening days are about results, not polish. Still, the same questions linger – who will provide the goals? Who will turn domination into ruthless efficiency? The stats say Celtic should have won comfortably; the reality is they relied on a deflection. That gap between numbers and narrative tells the real story of the afternoon.
GAME TWO – Aberdeen 0–2 Celtic – SPFL
Celtic defeated Aberdeen 2-0 at Pittodrie, overcoming early pressure to make it two wins from two in their Premiership pre-opposition defence. Immediately following the agonising Scottish Cup final loss to the same opposition, this was more than just three points — it was a statement win to “banish the hurt”, as Brendan Rodgers put it afterwards. Aberdeen started strong thanks to Adil Aouchiche forcing a fingertip save from Schmeichel. But Celtic reacted coolly, and Benjamin Nygren’s strike was the game-changing moment. The Swedish midfielder is already providing the goals lost from Matt O’Riley. Throughout the game, Nygren’s composure and timing were especially impressive, his attacking prowess was on par with his goal. Tierney proved the difference his profile of left back for Celtic makes. Tierney stretches the field, cutting defenders off and connecting with midfield runners where Greg Taylor inverted into midfield. Celtic’s attack has really missed his ability to hit the byline, and it’s already clear that he and Nygren click.
However, Tierney was asked to mimic some of Taylor’s internal movements by Rodgers, which occasionally felt awkward and constrained his abilities. Once more following strong link play with Nygren, Reo Hatate completed the victory in the 66th minute with a spectacular 18-yard strike off the underside of the bar. Their collaboration is quickly emerging as Celtic’s strongest pairing in front of McGregor. However, issues still exist up front. Adam Idah frequently ruined promising moves with his erratic hold-up play. Daizen Maeda wasted another one-on-one, continuing the wastefulness that suggests the goal total from the previous season was more of a patch job than a permanent one. Against Aberdeen’s intense press, it became clear that Liam Scales, who was strong inside the box, was limited when playing out.
The Dons’ pressing unit, however, lacked cohesiveness because Shinnie and Nilsen were unable to cover the ground required to support their front line, creating openings that Celtic’s midfield took advantage of. In the end, Celtic had 58% of the possession, 14 shots to Aberdeen’s 9, and six goals on goal as opposed to the hosts’ two. Aberdeen’s busiest player, Dimitar Mitov, made great saves to keep Maeda and Hatate out, but he was powerless to stop the inevitable. After they settled, Celtic demonstrated their dominance by scoring six corners to Aberdeen’s two. Although Celtic weren’t perfect—they still lacked a strong offensive line—winning when they weren’t playing at their best is a sign of a champion. The signs are encouraging as Nygren, Hatate, and Tierney have already established important alliances. It’s still obvious that Celtic needs new attacking options if they hope to turn their dominance into brutal scorelines.
GAME THREE – Celtic 4–1 Falkirk – SPFL League Cup
Celtic defeated Falkirk 4-1 at Celtic Park to secure their spot in the League Cup quarterfinals. The victory demonstrated the depth of Brendan Rodgers’ team as well as their attacking variety. The story of the game was one of constant pressure, tactical clarity, and the mindset to convert dominance into goals, despite the scoreline’s suggestion of comfort. Falkirk came with vigour and ambition after being promoted to the Premiership this season. Agyeman, who was released by Motherwell; Miller, who is keen to make an impression against his former team; and Adams, the right-back whose ascent through the leagues has been extraordinary, are just a few of the players with something to prove in their squad. They played bravely, setting up Miller and MacIver to create chances, but in the end, the jump to Celtic’s level was too great.
With Tierney and Johnston attacking from fullback areas, each were forcing the Falkirk keeper into saves, evidently the fullbacks being told to shoot at first sight, Celtic dominated from the start. After twenty-six minutes, that directness paid off when Tierney, in his prime down the flank, headed McGregor’s cross back across goal, where Daizen Maeda stooped to score.. Although there were a few opportunities, such as Engels hitting the post with a free kick, the floodgates opened around the hour mark as the Hoops pressed hard, encroaching on Falkirk in groups of three and four. Dane Murray rose to nod in an Engels corner for his first Celtic goal, Johnston dispossessed Calvin Miller before curling a calm finish into the far corner, and Yang’s low cross deflected in off Liam Henderson for a 4-0 lead. Murray’s performance was especially promising. He was aerially dominant, remained calm under duress, and displayed the traits Rodgers has identified as being important for a Celtic centre-back in the future.
Engels appeared to be an expert in set pieces as well, and his deliveries frequently caused issues. Meanwhile, Celtic were able to keep up their tempo at the back thanks to Trusty’s faster distribution than Scales. Keelan Adams, making his 50th appearance, became the first player to score against Celtic this season when he thundered home from the edge of the box, rewarding Falkirk for their bravery. There were Rodgers’ fingerprints all over the place. After the final whistle, he was clearly coaching, removing Nygren, Sinisalo, and Bain to discuss positional specifics. After the game, he emphasised Falkirk’s attempts to build were stifled by Celtic’s counter-press and ¾ press and the significance of managing each half’s first and last five minutes. A central midfielder at right wing and a centre-back at left wing highlighted the squad’s weakness and the need for reinforcements. Yang once again showed why he is most effective as an impact substitute by dribbling straight to Falkirk late in the game, despite early doubts about his effectiveness.
While Maeda’s missed opportunities earlier in the game cast doubt on whether last season’s goal total was a one-off hot streak, Kenny put forth a lot of effort but lacked the skill necessary to lead the line. In the end, what impressed the most was the mindset. Celtic maintained their professionalism and intensity in the face of rotation and transfer commotion. Falkirk departed with credit, but Celtic looked every inch the holders — relentless, clinical when it mattered, and already “in the groove” as Rodgers’ men chase silverware.
GAME FOUR – Celtic 0–0 Kairat – UCL PLAY OFF 1ST LEG
At Celtic Park, this was the kind of European night that was all too familiar – lots of possession, brief bursts of pressure, but little innovation. Brendan Rodgers’ team faces a risky second leg in Kazakhstan after a goalless draw at home, the first time they have failed to score at Parkhead in 47 games. Kairat appeared to have a plan from the first whistle. They maintained their compactness, pressed hard in central areas, and never hesitated to slow down play. Emilson’s bold long-range attempt following a Carter-Vickers error had the home crowd gasping, and their early disallowed goal shook Celtic. In order to prevent giving up a potentially lethal away goal, Celtic had to resort to desperate defending by the end. The greater source of Rodgers’ annoyance was at the other end.
Celtic only managed two shots on goal during the entire evening. Adam Idah appeared unimpressed and unmoving, and Daizen Maeda missed the best opportunity late on, the kind of finish he missed last season but has since wasted far too frequently. In the absence of a consistent striker, the Hoops’ attacks repeatedly failed. Kairat was ideally suited to the play pattern. Attackers cut inside into crowded areas because Celtic frequently used right-footers on the left (and vice versa), depriving the team of width. There wasn’t much thrust down the flanks because Kieran Tierney had a bad night and Greg Taylor was no longer there. Alistair Johnston’s stretchered departure during the first half due to what appeared to be a hamstring injury made matters worse by exposing the right side and highlighting the urgent need for reinforcements. A glimmer of hope appeared. Directness was introduced by Hyun-jun Yang at halftime, and his readiness to drive at defenders once more demonstrated why he has developed into such a valuable European impact substitute.
Hatate also produced a barrage of risky crosses, but they were ineffective without Kyogo, Jota, or Kuhn and their clinical finishing. Chants of “sack the board” rang out throughout Celtic Park as the supporters’ patience gave out halfway through the second half. The summer transfer window, which has left Rodgers attempting to win £40 million Champions League ties without enough forwards of the right calibre, was another source of their annoyance in addition to the performance. Meanwhile, Kairat perfectly carried out the “Anti-Celtic in Europe” strategy, which included sitting narrow, playing for set pieces, frustrating the opposition, and letting the stadium’s anxiety work against the home team.
GAME FIVE – Celtic 3-0 Livingston – SPFL
Following a frustrating draw with Kairat, Celtic made their domestic comeback. Brendan Rodgers made eight changes to the starting lineup in preparation for the Champions League play-offs. The drastically altered team got off to a strong start, pressing Livingston high and controlling possession with about 80% of the ball. While Bernardo demonstrated the quality of his passing and vision, Inamura made an impression forward from left-back with a series of dangerous crosses. Though he still lacked poise in front of goal, Yamada displayed deft movement and nice touches, and Engels ran the ball through midfield with strength, moving the game along more successfully than he did the previous season. Celtic’s attack was fuelled by Nygren’s movement inside the box and his communication with Murray and Scales, which supported the front line and encouraged more forward passes. Yang, who played on the left, contributed more speed and directness, demonstrating that his influence as a substitute in earlier European games could be replicated at home.
Celtic struggled to convert chances in the first half, despite their early dominance. The visitors’ defensive tenacity held the home team at bay, and Livingston’s goalkeeper Jerome Prior made an amazing save to tip a Yang header onto the crossbar. Shortly after the restart, Celtic’s patience paid off as Nygren, who was already establishing himself as a vital attacking player, scored the first goal after careful build-up play. Nygren’s instinct for scoring goals was reminiscent of O’Riley’s impact in past seasons. Then, with a cool top-corner finish, he added a second, increasing his season total to three goals and demonstrating his value to Brendan Rodgers’ team. Johnny Kenny scored his first goal at Celtic Park with a clinical finish from a Maeda cross, highlighting the potency of Celtic’s second-half substitutions. On defence, Murray and Scales handled Yengi’s physical presence with assurance, and they and the rest of the backline demonstrated the high level of athleticism and pressing that Rodgers requires.
The team continued to play with intensity, shutting down several players at once and exhibiting the professionalism and mindset that have come to define Celtic under Rodgers. Although it was a hard-earned victory over a resolute opponent, Celtic was able to rest a number of their senior players before their European match in Almaty, which kept their domestic campaign on track and, for the time being at least, silenced the earlier cries of “sack the board” from the Celtic Park crowd. Nygren’s goal-scoring threat and poise were praised by Rodgers, who also praised the team’s patience and teamwork in defeating a resolute Livingston defence.
GAME SIX – Kairat 0-0 Celtic (3-2 Penalties) – UCL PLAY OFF 2ND LEG
It was more the fault of our own team than the opposition that prevented Celtic from defeating Kairat in the Champions League play-offs. Celtic struggled to establish themselves at crucial times, lacked a true attacking focal point, and displayed a squad lacking in both inventiveness and finishing ability over the course of the two legs. The match revealed flaws that have been there all summer: a lack of confidence in forwards, a lack of recruitment, and an excessive dependence on a select few reliable players. Celtic lacked urgency and were cautious from the beginning in Almaty. The team’s desired attacking fluidity was lacking, as James Forrest, Hyun-jun Yang, and Daizen Maeda were unable to work well together. Heavy touches and backward passes slowed attacks rather than generating momentum, and long balls were frequently aimless. The build-up from Celtic was slow, predictable, and lacked the cutting movement needed to penetrate Kairat’s compact, well-organised defence. The team lacked the poise to score even when they created half-chances, such as Maeda’s late effort and Forrest’s header that tipped over.
Celtic had a strong defence, but they were more reactive than proactive. They demonstrated focus and discipline by surviving a tense indirect free-kick situation on the six-yard line that was brought on by Callum McGregor’s looping back pass. In stark contrast to their lack of attacking ability, the team’s organisation and saves from Schmeichel kept Kairat from taking advantage of their few opportunities. It was especially telling that there was no trustworthy number nine. Since Adam Idah had not performed well in the first leg, Celtic had no obvious target in the final third when he was benched for the second leg. Despite their energy and mobility, Maeda and Yang were unable to offer the required cutting edge, and Forrest found himself alone on the left. The defining characteristic of Celtic’s performance was their lack of clinical finishing and final-third decision-making. Celtic’s attempts to up the tempo and intensity of the game as it went on failed to create any significant opportunities, and the match ended in penalties. Idah, McCowan, and Maeda all missed, leaving only Engels and McGregor to convert, demonstrating the squad’s limitations under duress during the shootout as shown previously.
Temirlan Anarbekov, the goalkeeper for Kairat, stopped Celtic’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League with the penalty shootout playing out in a fashion that reflected the 210 minutes on the pitch: encouraging moments marred by a lack of decisiveness and collective inefficiency. In the end, the tie brought attention to structural problems rather than individual errors. Although Celtic’s midfield was occasionally able to control the ball, this control was mostly ineffective in the absence of forwards who could take advantage of space or finish opportunities. In theory, Rodgers’ rotation, squad management, and tactical decisions were sound, but in reality, the team lacked the players to produce the required flashes of genius. In order to be successful in Europe, Celtic needs more players who can step up in critical roles, more agile attacking play, and a forward with the poise and instinct to consistently convert opportunities. Almaty will now be remembered in the same sense as games against Maribor, Malmo, Athens, Cluj, Ferencvaros, and Midtylland and we will all hope to forget when inevitably Celtic repeat this in a few years and the cycle continues as such.
GAME SEVEN – Rangers 0-0 Celtic – SPFL
With a lacklustre and toothless performance in a goalless Old Firm draw, Celtic’s trip to Ibrox served as yet another sobering reminder of the team’s attacking problems this season. The attacking play lacked coherence, inventiveness, and intensity right from the start. Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Daizen Maeda, and James Forrest were unable to establish themselves. They were frequently isolated and unable to connect with the midfield or generate significant opportunities. In possession, Benjamin Nygren was frustrated, and even when he had space, the ball was not moved forward very creatively. No respite was provided by the midfield, which constantly played it safe, recycled possession, and hardly ever took chances to breach Rangers’ defences.
The team’s tempo was slow, and passes were predictable and lateral or backward rather than progressive. There was no desire to try the cutting passes that could have opened the narrow Rangers defence or to commit numbers into risky positions. Although Celtic occasionally controlled the ball, they lacked the guts and ingenuity to convert that possession into chances to score goals. Forrest had little influence, Nygren’s vision was suppressed by the conservative mindset around him, and Maeda’s movement lacked inspiration. Celtic had a strong defence, with Liam Scales and the back line in particular holding firm to prevent Rangers from creating any obvious openings. Although the team avoided the mistakes that have occasionally cost them in past games, the near-complete lack of attacking threat was not made up for by defensive security. Celtic had zero shots on goal and the travelling fans were clearly frustrated because even the first-half opportunities were insignificant. The match revealed structural problems. Celtic lacked a forward line that could make snap decisions and a midfield that was willing to take chances. Although possession was managed, it lost its meaning in the absence of imagination or penetration.
Rodgers’ team was totally dependent on individual flashes rather than coordinated attacking patterns, was unable to create space, and was unable to upset Rangers’ compact structure. Celtic’s attacks were easily anticipated and stopped because they lacked a creative midfield spark and a dependable number nine. This performance highlights how urgently the team needs reinforcements, especially in the midfield and attacking positions, to regain the ability to play with the risk-taking mentality that has traditionally characterised Celtic football and to threaten the opposition. Without quick fixes, the team runs the risk of seeing its possession dominance turn into sterile buildup that is unable to penetrate well-prepared defences. If Celtic are to regain their attacking identity and keep their competitive edge in the Premiership and Europe, Rodgers needs to figure out how to infuse creativity, promote risk-taking, and give the midfield the freedom to play forward with intent.
