Celtic in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25

The thing we need to consider is I think this will come down to goal diff to get into the pay offs. It will be a sore one if that is how we end up failing to qualify. Might need to think of a midfield that can at least block the lines and force these type of teams wide for Maeda and Kuhn to act as blockers in front of their respective full backs. Who knows what that will be. If a get paid 3 million pa. I might have an idea

 

When the fixture list came out, it was always going to be how we react and come out of 3 loses in a row, mentally!
The first game was a perfect chance to get 3 points on the board, and we did that with flying colours!
The following 3 games (Dortmund, Atalanta and Leipzig) were always gonna be our 3 toughest games (you could argue Villa too), and games we were very unlikely to get any points from.

It’s the 3 games after this that’s gonna realistically decide our future in the competition.
If we can get over the loses with any confidence still in tact, we just need to get 6-7 points from the Brugge, Zagreb and Young Boys games.
I know, easier said than done, but on form and with the right game plan, it’s well doable.

The Brugge game is the biggest game of the group now, get a win there, no matter what happens in the games between now and then, and we are well set up for a chance of qualifying!

 

I watched both the Villa game and Man U games midweek. and then on Sunday, watched them play each other.
Like Celtic, after tough midweek European games, they were suffering from a European hangover. Very leggy, suspect a mentally draining also.

So just reckon, we will need a bit of squad rotation after European nights.
Overall, our squad is in a reasonable state-with the exception of wingers, Forrest will do a job off the bench but not as a starter. 5 options for 3 midfield positions and full backs should be able to rotate seamless. Just feel we need more from Iadh up top at the moment, right now he can be relied on as an impact sub but not as a starter.
Center half is a position that I feel should see very little rotation, due to the fact that they don't cover much ground and its a partnership position.

 

Given Rodgers comments about his style. The team that started the FA cup final in 2021 was effectively a 5-3-2 with three centre backs and Thomas and Castagne as wing backs with Ndidi and Tielmans in centre midfield. He did have 3 forwards in Perez, Ihaenacho and Vardy but emptied his bench with more defensive and midfield players to shore it up.

So he can set a team up that way and be effective.

 

In away games I'd be tempted to start all four of Calmac, Bernardo, Engels and Hatate and leave out Kyogo. Bernardo or Engels sitting deep alongside Calmac and use Maeda the way Japan do. Could try something like

Schmeichel
Johnston CCV Scales Taylor
Kuhn Bernardo McGregor Hatate
Engels
Maeda​

 

The sporting management of BSC Young Boys has decided to release head coach Patrick Rahmen with immediate effect. As in the last season, U21 coach Joël Magnin will take over the team on an interim basis until further notice. After that, the 53-year-old will return to his previous role at YB.

"It was very difficult for us to release Patrick Rahmen," says Christoph Spycher, the board's sports delegate. "But after extensive discussions and analyses, we came to the conclusion that a change is needed. Our situation as bottom of the table after nine rounds is extremely disappointing. It's about getting back on track. It's bitter that things didn't work out with Patrick Rahmen. At the same time, we are grateful to Joël Magnin for putting himself fully at the service of BSC Young Boys and once again clearly expressing his loyalty to the club. We are convinced that with him we will succeed in giving the team more self-confidence and stability. In our situation, we don't need to talk about winning the championship, but about finding our way out of the slump step by step. That alone is a very big challenge."

Sporting director Steve von Bergen says the separation from Patrick Rahmen is painful for everyone. "Patrick deserves our utmost respect as a person and as a coach. Unfortunately, together we have not managed to meet sporting expectations. It is a fact that we have fallen far short of expectations in the championship so far. We have tried everything in recent weeks to turn the tide in this constellation. But unfortunately we have not succeeded. After around a quarter of the championship, the table is meaningful. And we are at the bottom. We are hoping for fresh impetus from Joël Magnin. In the spring he proved that he could get the best out of the team in a difficult situation with the coaching staff. Now he could have made it easy for himself and turned us down. But he is stepping in for the second time on an interim basis to help BSC Young Boys. We are very grateful to him for that."

Patrick Rahmen says: "The sporting situation in the championship is very unsatisfactory for us. But I was full of energy and fully convinced that together we would manage to free ourselves from this situation, especially since we have qualified for the Champions League and are still in the Swiss Cup. But of course I have to accept the decision in full. I would like to thank everyone who has supported and accompanied me, especially the coaching staff, the team, all employees and the fans, who have shown me great appreciation. I will remember the beautiful moments - not just the qualification for the Champions League."

The separation from Patrick Rahmen means that his assistant Enrico Schirinzi will also be released.

It is very important to BSC Young Boys to thank Patrick Rahmen and Enrico Schirinzi for their services. Even if the sporting success in the championship did not materialize as hoped, the two will be fondly remembered at YB. We wish Patrick Rahmen and Enrico Schirinzi all the best for their private and professional future

 

Bad news for us because hhey can't get any worse.

Haven't scored a goal in the Champions League and have let in 8.

Theyre bottom of the league in Switzerland.

 

Dortmund 2 up away to Real Madrid. Our result doesn’t look to bad if scores stay same

 

Dortmund decided to sit deep and concede 2 in a minute. You need to have the right balance at this level.

 

... It's 2-2

 

We lost 7-1 mate. Seven.

 

That's a killer..

Coulda went 3-2 up and go down the other end and an interception falls right back to him..

Madrid have been battering the door all second half to be fair..

 

As I type PSV are drawing away to PSG and Shaktar are losing 1 0 away to Arsenal with 5 minutes left.

There's no reason why we shouldn't be aiming to at least be competitive away from home in Europe. The odd big defeat is almost inevitable playing at this level but it should be the exception rather than the rule.

(And it's 4 2 to Madrid now..)

 

They never give up. Dortmund tried to shut up shop at 2-0 and Madrid just battered them. They opened up at 2-2 but lost momentum a bit.

It's happened to us in the past as well.

 

One of our best performances away in the CL under Brendan was in Mönchengladbach. If we can find the right system, we might get success against the non top tier teams.

 

It's just what can happen at this level, games can get away from you fast if you don't get your * together after a setback

 

Aye they took Gittens off too early for me..

Just shows you though. Our battering was unacceptable and then you see Dortmund really putting on the best side in Europe....then Madrid turn it on and score 5 in 1 half against last seasons champions league finalists..

 

Aye, at this level you get punished for every slip up.

Imagine throwing away a two goal lead at half time or conceding 5 in one half...

 

I'm gonna *Homer Simpson walking backwards into a hedge gif* right back into the Hun thread after reading this post.

 

I still don't get how we have had so many free hits in the champions league we still look like a team bereft of ideas when we have to step up a level against better opposition.