Celtic travelled to Germany to play RB Leipzig in the Europa league tonight, with a much-changed line-up, and they were beaten 2-0 at the Red Bull Arena.
Cristian Gamboa, Eboue Kouassi, Lewis Morgan and Ryan Christie all started, with Mikael Lustig and Filip Benkovic rested, presumably with an eye on Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
Celtic started off okay and looked threatening early on but that didn’t last and Leipzig were two up by half-time with two quick-fire goals.
By this time the Celtic fans had turned on their players and Koussai in particular came in for some sustained criticism, with the finger of blame pointed at him for some poor defending for the goals.
COMMENTARY
We thought it was an odd line-up when it was announced and, probably like many Celtic fans, we didn’t hold out much hope for the Hoops tonight. Did Rodgers? Or was that why he made the changes he did with an eye on Sunday? This was Kouassi’s second start in a season where he’s been sidelined by Rodgers. On tonight’s evidence it’s easy to see why. He was naive and to blame for the first Celtic goal, after making a fairly decent start, although you could say he was thrown in at the deep end tonight after very little action this season. One fan said that he’d been stealing his wage at Celtic for too long – with only 20 appearances since he joined for £3million from Krasnodar. That seems like an awful lot of money now and some Celtic fans were quick to remind the world how much they paid on Twitter tonight. One Celtic fan even said that they’d be better off playing with 10 men than having Kouassi on the pitch.
Here are the best reactions to Kouassi’s rare outing for Celtic:
https://twitter.com/_CalMac42_/status/1055511993787052033
I'd give Kouassi a free transfer tomorrow. He's a waste of a jersey
— John (@Goose1167) October 25, 2018
If nothing else hopefully tonight signals the end for Kouassi
— Iain Boyle (@iainboyle) October 25, 2018
I’ve seen Sunday league defences better than Celtics right now. I love how Gamboa pulled up after diving in yet from kick off he was absolutely fine. No fight. Get kouassi off he’s a liability in the middle.
— Justin (@Justabator) October 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/dazhall91/status/1055513286802898947
We’d be better playing with 10 men instead of kouassi
— Stephen Bissett (@stephebissett) October 25, 2018
how's kouassi near this team honestly
— Marcus Foster (@marcusfoster_) October 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sean88Conway/status/1055513854560604160
Celtic are abysmal defensively! Looked good for 30 mins, Leipzig looked unsure but we've gifted them 2 goals! Kouassi hopeless for both!
— Ross Math ??????????? (@Joxxter67) October 25, 2018
Horrendous so far…Kouassi Ntcham empty jerseys….gonna be a long night…
— Michael O'Neill (@mickybhoy55) October 25, 2018