Former Ireland international Richard Dunne has outlined his worries about Kasper Schmeichel’s age after he let his guard slip for Denmark against Spain on Saturday.
The Celtic ‘keeper played the full 90 as his nation lost 1-0 away in Murcia. The match was on edge heading into the closing stages before Martin Zubimendi’s shot from just outside the box slipped through Schmeichel’s gloves.
The Hoops number one has since owned up to his error, but after the match, Dunne made clear his concerns about Schmeichel’s age.
Now 37, the goalie has been around the block more than most, and Dunne believes that as he goes on in years, his level is ever-so-slightly dropping.
The Irishman pointed towards some of the goals Schmeichel conceded in Celtic’s 7-1 mauling at the hands of Borussia Dortmund to add evidence to his point.
“I think at 37 you need to be very careful,” he said (Virgin Media Sport via Glasgow Times).
“Just going back to the Dortmund game that we watched a few weeks ago he wasn’t the sort of Kasper Schmeichel that we’ve been we’ve seen in previous years.
“He looked a little bit sluggish.
“The more you analyse it, and you get closer into it and look at it deeper, sometimes his position is not right. He’s not reading the shot correctly. He’s not reacting.
“And Kasper’s had a really good season. He’s done really well in the league. When you go and play in the Champions League it’s a level up, obviously, playing against Spain is a level up, and you’re playing against against better strikers and that.
“And he just looked a little bit sluggish, a little bit rusty. He didn’t look as sharp as he should be.”
Dortmund aside, when the whole team was off it, Schmeichel has made a prosperous start to life at Celtic.
The veteran is yet to concede from open play in the Scottish Premiership and has been a considerable upgrade on Joe Hart.
His ball-playing ability is second to none and has drastically improved how the Hoops build up from the back.
Although he was suspect for his nation the other night, his elite mentality, which has seen him win an English Premier League, FA Cup, and over 100 caps for his country, will ensure he rapidly bounces back.
