Martin O’Neill has revealed Celtic will become a more tactically flexible side this season following the arrival of Kasper Høgh.
The Danish striker completed his club-record move from Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday, becoming the latest addition to O’Neill’s squad after Camilo Duran joined from Qarabag earlier in the summer.
While the focus has understandably been on the quality of Celtic’s new attacking options, O’Neill has hinted that the arrivals will also allow him to change shape more regularly during matches.
Throughout pre-season, the Celtic manager has spoken about evolving his side, and supporters were given a glimpse of that on the final day of last season.
Chasing the game against Hearts, O’Neill threw both Kelechi Iheanacho and Callum Osmand up front in the closing stages as Celtic searched for the goal that would ultimately secure the title.
It was a system that evoked memories of O’Neill’s first spell at Celtic, when strike partnerships were a hallmark of his side.
Now, the manager wants his squad to be comfortable switching formations whenever a game demands it.
Speaking to Sky Sports, O’Neill said:
“There should be more than one way to play the game. We have been playing a 4-3-3, but we changed it in the last few minutes against Hearts on the final day.
“We will work on being flexible during the course of the season so that if we switch to a 4-4-2 for half an hour, it shouldn’t be a problem for the team.
“But yeah, I want quality rather than quantity.”
Rather than being tied to one formation, the manager wants his players to be adaptable enough to alter their approach without disrupting the team’s rhythm.
The arrival of Høgh certainly gives him that option.
The 25-year-old’s presence as a traditional centre-forward means Celtic can continue with their familiar 4-3-3, but also have the flexibility to pair him with another striker if the situation calls for it.
Duran’s versatility in the final third only strengthens those possibilities.
For Celtic supporters, the prospect of seeing O’Neill return to a two-striker system at times will undoubtedly bring back memories of some of the club’s most successful sides under his previous tenure.
Whether it’s used from the start or introduced during matches, one thing is becoming increasingly clear – O’Neill wants a Celtic side capable of winning games in more than one way.
Keep Reading
