Celtic supporters have come under criticism from former Rangers winger Peter Løvenkrands after Kasper Schmeichel was booed during the Europa League defeat to Stuttgart a fortnight ago.
The Danish goalkeeper endured a difficult night as Celtic were beaten 4–1 at Parkhead. Stuttgart punished mistakes and controlled large spells of the match, leaving the home side chasing the game. Frustration grew in the stands as the goals went in.
A small section of supporters turned their anger toward Schmeichel. The goalkeeper heard jeers from sections of the crowd after mistakes led to goals. It was a rare sight at Celtic Park, where players are usually backed loudly even on difficult nights.
Schmeichel’s experience has been a big part of his career. He has played in high pressure games across England and Europe. But Celtic Park carries its own intensity, especially when results slip away in front of a full house.
Løvenkrands said: (RecordSport), “But up here, it’s a tough place and we all know that.
“As for the booing, I’ve just never seen that before. I’ve seen the bad things.
“I’ve had bad things myself but I’ve never seen anything like that.
“It was hard to watch.“
The Stuttgart defeat left Celtic needing a response and raised questions about the goalkeeper’s form. When goals go in from situations a keeper normally deals with, the spotlight naturally shifts to that position.
Schmeichel has missed Celtic’s last three matches through illness. The Hoops have recorded two wins and a draw in that spell, including the hard-fought result against Rangers at Ibrox.
Viljami Sinisalo stepped in for those games and produced confident displays. He looked comfortable with the ball at his feet and dealt well with crosses into the box. The Finnish goalkeeper also made key saves that helped Celtic take points during a tense period of the season.
That run has opened a fresh debate around the position. Celtic found results while Schmeichel was out of the side, and Sinisalo’s performances have given the coaching staff something to think about heading into the next run of fixtures.
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