Celtic did not get their first win of the European season on the board once they have been overwhelmed 2-0 by Braga at Parkhead within the Europa League on Thursday evening.
The Hoops have been held to successive 0-0 attracts, shedding on penalties within the second leg, by Kairat within the Champions League qualifiers, earlier than they have been held to a 1-1 draw by Crimson Star Belgrade of their first match of the league section within the Europa League final week.
Their 2-0 loss to Braga in entrance of their very own supporters, who made their emotions clear at full-time, signifies that they’ve did not win 4 successive matches in Europe this season.
Celtic might really feel exhausting accomplished by, although, as VAR dominated out Kelechi Iheanacho’s aim with a name that was described by Chris Sutton as “presumably the worst determination of all time”.
Celtic have been dominant domestically, with 4 successive league title wins, however they haven’t had a lot success on the European stage, in any competitors, and it’s a step up that even among the membership’s greatest gamers have struggled with.
Kyogo Furuhashi, for instance, struggled within the Champions League final season as he got here in direction of the tip of his profession with the Scottish giants.
Why Kyogo Furuhashi struggled for Celtic in Europe
One thing that may be underestimated about European soccer is the step up in physicality in addition to high quality compared to some Scottish Premiership matches.
By way of how gamers use their power, how they use their velocity, the depth of their press, it might generally really feel like a distinct sport in Europe, which is why Kyogo, specifically, had some powerful nights in European video games.
The Japan worldwide, who scored 85 targets for the Hoops, was by no means probably the most bodily centre-forward for Celtic, however it appeared to impact his European type greater than his home type, presumably because of the causes listed above.
|
Kyogo (Champions League) |
23/24 |
24/25 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
6 |
7 |
|
Touches |
14 |
13.1 |
|
Objectives |
2 |
1 |
|
Huge probabilities missed |
2 |
3 |
|
Duel success fee |
33% |
39% |
|
Aerial duel success fee |
0% |
0% |
|
Duels received per sport |
1.3 |
1.0 |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Kyogo misplaced the vast majority of his duels, failing to win a single aerial battle within the Champions League in his final two seasons with the membership, scoring three targets in 13 matches.
Due to how dominant opposition centre-backs have been with the Japanese striker, the skilled marksman failed to offer common high quality on the prime finish of the pitch.
Moments just like the one within the clip above in opposition to Atletico Madrid have been far and much between, sadly, and the elevated depth and physicality of European soccer could be the cause behind that.
Now, one other member of Ange Postecoglou’s treble-winning aspect seems to be affected by related points within the present workforce for Brendan Rodgers.
Callum McGregor captained the Scottish giants as soon as once more in the course of the park, however turned in a worse efficiency than Benjamin Nygren for Celtic.
Why McGregor is on his option to turning into the subsequent Kyogo
Like Kyogo, the Hoops captain just isn’t probably the most bodily participant when it comes to his mobility or depth, which is comprehensible given that he’s a tempo-setting quantity six within the Premiership.
His composed play on the ball, finishing 94% of his passes within the Premiership (Sofascore), helps him to dictate and management matches for the Hoops in home motion, however the elevated physicality and depth of European soccer has had an impression on his performances.
Celtic common 73.2% of the ball per sport (WhoScored) within the Premiership, which illustrates their complete dominance, however they solely had 56% of the ball in opposition to Braga at Parkhead on Thursday evening.
As a result of Braga had extra depth to their press than lots of the groups that Celtic face domestically have, McGregor, Nygren, and Paulo Bernardo had extra of a battle on their palms than they normally do in a Hoops shirt at Parkhead.
Nygren outperformed the captain together with his play out and in of possession, exhibiting better physicality and depth, successful three extra duels and twice as many tackles in 23 fewer minutes on the pitch.
McGregor misplaced 80% of his duels on the evening. That got here after he received 4 of his 9 duels, making one deal with, in 90 minutes in opposition to Crimson Star Belgrade final week, per Sofascore.
The Celtic veteran’s bodily struggles within the Europa League mustn’t come as an enormous shock, although, as he has additionally misplaced 53% of his floor duels within the Premiership, per Sofascore, which exhibits that he has been barely off the tempo in his battles on the deck in home motion.
Kyogo’s exit didn’t lead to a direct substitute in January, because the Hoops felt that Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda provided sufficient cowl within the centre-forward place, and an analogous scenario might come up with McGregor.
That isn’t to say that the left-footed star will likely be offered by the membership he has spent his total profession at, however the Hoops might get to a degree the place the captain might discover himself out of the workforce to play a extra dynamic and bodily midfield that’s able to scrapping it out in matches to win duels and battle for factors.
Due to this fact, McGregor could possibly be at risk of turning into the brand new Kyogo due to his struggles with the depth and physicality of European soccer, based mostly on latest proof.
Rodgers will likely be hoping, although, that the 32-year-old star can study from these final couple of matches and place himself higher to keep away from duels and take extra management of the sport in possession in the remainder of the league section.