CHRIS SUTTON has stated that this year’s Champions League group stages will be remembered as the year Celtic failed to take their chances.
Across the four games so far, Celtic have had 54 shots, but have only netted the ball twice. Not the greatest statistic, but it can be spun. It shows that Celtic are at the level required, but the side just have to be more clinical and take their chances.
Even going back to the first game of the group, Celtic had many chances in the first half, but didn’t take a single one. Postecoglou’s side should’ve been leading by a few goals at the break that night.
Writing in the Daily Record, Sutton reasoned why Celtic are at the Champions League level;
“This campaign has been all about missed chances for Celtic. The stattos can go on about expected goals, but you can see with your own eyes. It’s not xG – it’s missing sitters.
“Celtic had 50-odd shots on goal and passed up half a dozen incredible opportunities across the four games and those are the margins at this level.
“it’s also why I agree Celtic are not a million miles away.
“No doubt, there is a lack of cutting edge to Postecoglou’s side right now at home and in Europe. They are not quite firing in front of goal. Dazien Maeda seems to have lost a bit of confidence, it’s not coming off for Kyogo at present and Liel Abada has gone off the boil a bit.
“They are a bit too nice at times – like the other night when Giorgos Giakoumakis was tugged in the box and should have been screaming for a penalty and demanding a VAR check.
“Yet there’s still a feeling someone is in for a battering from them at some point, regardless of the injury issues.”
You get the feeling that it’s about to click. It’s not that Celtic are playing poorly at the moment, they’re just failing to pounce on their chances. If they turn up and have their shooting boots on, there’s another 9-0 on the way.
