Former Celtic defender Allan Stubbs thinks Brendan Rodgers will tweak his tactics when the Hoops travel to face Atalanta in just over a week.
The Bhoys head to Bergamo a week on Wednesday, looking to put their 7-1 trouncing off Borussia Dortmund behind them.
The heavy loss to the German giants sparked discussion among the Parkhead faithful, with many fans suggesting that Rodgers’ approach away to elite European opposition needs to alter.
Rodgers has heeded several scalps to big sides in the Champions League. Barcelona, PSG, Atletico Madrid, and now Dortmund have all taken six or more off Celtic under his stewardship.
His open, expansive, high-pressing style of play is continually exposed. As a result, Stubbs thinks he will tighten things up next week.
“Even though Brendan said he won’t change his approach, I think he will change it slightly when Celtic play away from home,” he said (BestBettingSites.com).Â
“They can play beautiful, front-footed football at Celtic Park, there’s no doubt about that, but when they go away from home, I do think his approach will be slightly different.
“It will have to be.”
Celtic have enough fixtures in the league phase where they can play the usual football they play domestically and earn enough points to finish in the top 24.
Supporters, however, are sick of seeing their team get hit for five, six, or even seven against European football’s big-wigs.
Similarly to Dortmund, Atalanta will provide a stern test for the Bhoys. The Italians won the Europa League last season and have emerged victorious from their last two games against Genoa and Shakhtar Donetsk by an aggregate score of 8-1.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are in fine fettle as they get set to put Celtic under the microscope next Wednesday.