According to BBC expert Michael Stewart, the team’s struggles this season are primarily due to a lack of first-team spine.
Celtic’s first-team options, including Callum McGregor, Maik Narwocki, Luis Palma, and Liam Scales, were all injured in Saturday’s triumph over St Johnstone, and they have been absent all season.
Speaking to the BBC before the game, Stewart stated that losing that core has prevented the Celtic manager from reproducing the approach of his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou.
“For me, the biggest difference from last season is that the spine of the team has been missing. That is it.
“I mean, Brendan Rodgers, for me, wants to play football the same way as Ange Postecoglou.
“There might be the odd nuanced difference here and there, but nothing that would mark a significant difference with regards to how performances have been.”
The Australian manager moved on to Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League after His team won a triple crown the previous season. Along with him, three other players left: Carl Starfelt to Celta Vigo, Portuguese forward Jota to Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia for £25 million, and Aaron Mooy to retirement. Under Ange, these three players were essential members of the first team. An additional first team regular was also out of the picture due to an injury to Liel Abada, who just left for FC Charlotte in the Major League Soccer.
This season, Celtic has been hindered by injuries and questionable hiring decisions, yet despite this, the team is ahead of Rangers, who will play today.
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