The biggest pre-match surprise came on the team sheet when Martin O’Neill had selected Sebastian Tounekti to start on the wing, with James Forrest and Haissem Hassan left on the bench.
Every fan reading the lineup groaned when their eyes made it down to his name. Simply put, he’s not Celtic quality, especially when it comes to big games at Ibrox.
It came as a shock to no one, even before a ball was kicked, that he was hooked at half-time.
Let’s not get lost in it though; as poor as Tounekti lost, Celtic were embarrassed as a team, not by individual players.
But Stephen McGowan has pointed out the Tunisian’s knock-on effects actually hamper those playing around him.
Tounekti stopped Kieran Tierney from playing with the same attacking intent that he normally does, and with a finisher like Høgh in the box, the service from the wide area could’ve been the difference maker.
Speaking on the Press Box podcast, McGowan said:
“One other thing about Tounekti, I do feel sometimes, Tounekti almost kind of takes the sting out of Keiran Tierney as well. They don’t play well together on that left side. Tierney’s usually a really good attacking foil on that side.
“With Tounekti there, that doesn’t really happen.”
The Herald journalist had previously said that Celtic were keen on a number 6 – a position that badly needs filling at Celtic – but passed on signing him. A huge blow after watching what just unfolded at Ibrox.
It’s a massive week for an under-pressure Celtic staff with Europa League and another Derby at the weekend.
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