Celtic’s Left-Back Conundrum: Is Bernabei the Answer?

It’s no secret that Celtic’s Argentine left-back, Alexandro Bernabei, has been a point of concern for the Bhoys faithful this season. The 22-year-old has been given ample opportunities to prove his worth, but his performances have been, at best, underwhelming.

His performance at Ibrox against The Rangers last Sunday was emblematic of his struggles. In the heated cauldron of a Rangers-Celtic clash, Bernabei was given a golden opportunity to assert his presence and stake a claim for a more regular starting berth. Instead, he faltered.

A primary issue with Bernabei’s game is his apparent inability to fit into Ange Postecoglou’s system, which requires full-backs to “invert” – essentially becoming additional midfielders when Celtic has possession. In theory, this system allows for greater control of the game and more attacking options. But in practice, it demands a high level of technical proficiency and tactical understanding.

Bernabei’s struggles were evident at Ibrox, where he consistently misplaced passes in dangerous areas and was frequently caught out of position. These errors were capitalised upon by The Rangers, resulting in Celtic being easily countered.

This isn’t reflective of just one bad game at Ibrox, had he not played in that game, we’d still be having a similar conversation asking ‘is this player good enough?’.

Greg Taylor remains the undisputed first choice at left-back for Celtic. He provides a steady and reliable presence that has yet to be matched by Bernabei. If the Argentine had shown enough potential or progress in training, you would assume he’d have seen more minutes on the pitch. But that has not been the case.

Looking ahead, it’s difficult to envision a future where Bernabei is a regular starter for Celtic, particularly in high-stakes games. The question is: what should Celtic do? Should we persevere with Bernabei and hope he develops into the player we need him to be? Or should we seek a more immediate solution?

A potential answer might lie in our current first team right-back, Alistair Johnston. Johnston has proved to be a valuable asset for the club, with his relentless defensive work and ability to contribute to our attacking build up. He exemplifies the type of full-back that thrives in Postecoglou’s system. Should we be looking for a left-back in the same mould?

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou might not have the luxury of time. The stakes are high, and there is a need for immediate improvement. We have to ask ourselves: if Greg Taylor was out injured, would we feel confident slotting Bernabei into a crucial Champions League tie next season?

As it stands, the answer, for many, would likely be a resounding ‘no’. It’s a harsh reality, but one we must face.

Even if Alexandro gets a run for the final three games, with nothing at stake for the bhoys with them title already wrapped up, we’re unlikely to learn very much. 

In Ange we trust, and we hope that whatever decisions are made, they’ll be for the betterment of this Celtic side.