In the wake of Celtic’s latest outing, a somewhat underwhelming victory against Hibernian, all eyes were on new signing Nicolas Kuhn.
The winger, making his starting debut for the Bhoys at Easter Road, found the going tough, failing to replicate the spark he showed off the bench against Aberdeen where he netted a goal. Despite the high hopes pinned on him by the Celtic faithful, Kuhn’s performance was a reminder of the adaptation challenges new signings often face.
Celtic’s reliance on two penalties to secure the win against Hibs has not dampened Brendan Rodgers’ belief in his new recruit. Speaking ahead of the Scottish Cup tie with St Mirren, the Celtic manager offered a vote of confidence in Kuhn, highlighting the natural adaptation phase the winger is currently navigating.
Rodgers Confident in Kuhn’s Ability to Overcome Adaptation Challenges at Celtic
“Yeah, I just think it’s adapting to our playing style also. We’ve gone through his moments with him and the areas. When you come from one team to another, the characteristics may be the same, but there are still differences that you need to manage, and sometimes you see that when you’re on the pitch,” Rodgers explained to Celtic Youtube.
Rodgers’ comments shed light on the intricate process of a player’s integration into a new team. Kuhn’s transition from his previous club to Celtic is underpinned by not just physical, but also tactical and positional adjustments. The Celtic boss pointed out specific areas for improvement, such as aggression in the game and positioning, underscoring the depth of analysis and tactical training awaiting Kuhn.
“These are all things that come with tactical training and analysis. He’ll get that over time, I’m sure,” Rodgers added, affirming his belief in Kuhn’s ability to overcome early challenges.
The message from Celtic’s management is clear: patience and support are key. As Kuhn prepares potentially to start against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup, the stage is set for him to demonstrate his learning curve and contribute more significantly to the team’s creative force. Rodgers’ faith in the winger’s adaptability and growth suggests that Celtic fans may soon see the emergence of a new key player.
As the Bhoys continue their campaign across two fronts, the integration of talents like Kuhn will be pivotal.
2 penalties and 2 deflected goals in the last 3 games