Hope Over Hype: Celtic’s Champions League Squad Exposes Summer Flaws

As the Champions League anthem prepares to echo around Celtic Park once more, the squad list for Europe’s elite competition has been unveiled. And let’s just say, it’s raised more than a few eyebrows. Celtic have drawn a challenging group featuring Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, and Lazio. But the squad list—or perhaps more accurately, the absence list—points to a summer transfer window that was less “masterstroke” and more “mishap.”

Firstly, let’s talk about the glaring omissions. New summer recruits Kwon and Marco Tilio have been left out, and notably, Maik Nawrocki isn’t part of Brendan Rodgers’ European game plan. This suggests he’ll be sidelined with injury until at least November. If your new signings can’t even make the squad for the biggest competition, then questions must be asked. It’s like booking a five-star holiday and arriving to find your hotel is still under construction

UEFA’s parameters for homegrown talent have always been a tricky puzzle to solve, but this year it feels like we’ve lost a few pieces. The inclusion of an injured Stephen Welsh, speaks volumes about our recruitment strategy—or lack thereof. It’s a bit like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle with pieces from three different boxes.

The goalkeeping duo of Joe Hart and Scott Bain leaves Benjamin Siegrist off the list, meaning the B list will need to include a goalkeeper. This is yet another sign that our summer recruitment has left us in a precarious position. All eyes are now on Brendan Rodgers to navigate this ship through choppy waters. The manager came in with promises of European progression, but as it stands, we’re setting sail with a vessel that has a few leaks.

The action kicks off with a clash against Feyenoord next week, and one can’t help but feel a sense of trepidation. With a squad that seems weaker than last season’s Champions League endeavour, the road ahead looks daunting.

Now, let’s be clear: the absence of these new recruits from the Champions League squad doesn’t mean they won’t make an impact at Celtic in the future. Kwon, Tilio, and even Nawrocki could very well turn out to be fantastic signings in the long run. But that’s not the point, is it? The Champions League is not a competition for “future prospects”; it’s a battleground for the here and now.

When you’re up against the likes of Atletico Madrid and Lazio, you need players who are ready to step up to the plate today, not in two seasons’ time. The summer transfer window was the opportunity to bring in first-team ready talent, and it’s an opportunity that, frankly, we’ve missed. It’s like going to a gunfight armed with a slingshot and saying, “Well, one day this slingshot might be a bazooka.” That’s all well and good, but it’s not going to help you when you’re staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.

So, while these missing players could yet prove their worth in the green and white hoops, the immediate concern is that we’ve entered a Champions League campaign with a squad that’s not just lacking in depth, but also in immediate impact players. In a competition that’s as unforgiving as a Scottish winter, that’s a gamble we could live to regret.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Let’s not forget that we do have players in the squad who have tasted the electric atmosphere of last season’s Champions League group stage. That experience is invaluable and should stand them in good stead as we navigate another challenging group. Callum McGregor, Hatate, and Kyogo Furuhashi, among others, know what it’s like to play under those bright lights, and that can’t be underestimated.

Moreover, while our group is daunting, it’s not the Everest that was Real Madrid last term. Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, and Lazio are tough opponents, but they don’t feel as insurmountable. There’s a glimmer of hope that Brendan Rodgers could pull off a tactical masterclass in some of these fixtures.

So, while the Champions League squad registration has highlighted some glaring issues in our summer recruitment, it’s not the end of the world. We have a blend of experience and youthful exuberance that could yet surprise a few people. The point is, we could have been better prepared, but that doesn’t mean we’re out for the count.

In the grand theatre of European football, anything is possible. And as we prepare to kick off our campaign against Feyenoord next week, I live in hope rather than expectation. After all, in football, as in life, it’s not over until the final whistle. And who knows? We might just hear that whistle while standing tall, having defied the odds.

Celtic’s Champions League Squad: [UEFA] Excluding B List.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Scott Bain.

Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor, Liam Scales, Stephen Welsh, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Nat Phillips, Anthony Ralston, Alistair Johnston.

Midfielders: Tomoki Iwata, Matt O’Riley, Callum McGregor, David Turnbull, Reo Hatate, Odin Holm, Paulo Bernardo, James Forrest Yang, Palma.

Forwards: Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Hyeongyu Oh, Liel Abada, Mikey Johnston.

The action begins with a clash against Feyenoord next week.