Stephen Welsh has given his reaction after Celtic’s 2-2 draw against Legia Warsaw in Artur Boruc’s final game of professional football.
The young defender has been given a lot of game time during pre-season due to Carl Starfelt’s injury which he sustained while on international duty with Sweden during the summer months.
With Celtic having announced the signing of Moritz Jenz yesterday, Welsh like likely be the fourth choice centre half at the club with it looking likely that French defender Christopher Jullien will depart at some point during this summer.
Celtic were in complete control during the first half and could easily have went into the break more than two goals to the good but after a flurry of changes, Celtic’s good work in the first half was wiped as Legia pulled two goals back.
“I though first half we were excellent. The way we passed the ball and created a lot of chances I thought we could have scored a few more goals than we did. But the second half, I didn’t think we were great. I thought there early goal gave them a bit of momentum in the game and I don’t think we really got going. I think we need to look at that and try and put two halves together”, said Stephen Welsh speaking to Celtic TV.
The first half display was certainly some of the best football we had seen during this pre-season but there is still time before Celtic kick off their season against Aberdeen at the end of July.
“I’d say the first forty-five was probably the best quality we’ve shown as a team. The way that we played, the way that we were moving I thought we were playing well together.
“As I said we just need to continue that when we go into the second half and try and build on that. Again, it was a good workout for the boys and I thought we worked hard and gave 100% to the game. We move on to Saturday now.
“It’s just trying to get a rhythm again. We’ve had a good four or five pre-season games now and I think I’ve played in four of them. The games are going to come thick and fast, we’ve got Aberdeen in ten days now so we’re very much looking forward to that.
“We need to be raring to go and I think we need to get it properly right on Saturday against Norwich. We need to put in a good performance and I think we need to start games a better as well.
“I think we’ve been a bit slow starting both halves so I think we need to do that a little bit better as well but just keep playing the way we are playing. Our football – that’s what the gaffer implements into the team that he wants us to play our football and as I said I thought first half we did that really well tonight.
Saturday will be Celtic’s final test of pre-season and Ange Postecoglou may look to play a similar side to the one that will kick-off the season against the Dons eight days later. One thing that has changed our play is the amount of substitutions we have made which we may look to do less at the weekend.
