OPINION
Celtic’s European hopes took another dent on Thursday evening with defeat to RB Leipzig in Germany, a result which sees them three points behind the Bundesliga outfit in second at the halfway stage of their Europa League campaign.
Two first half goals within the space of four minutes of each other sank Brendan Rodgers’ side and left them fighting a battle to qualify for the knockout stages, with only Rosenborg below them in their group.
It was a much changed starting XI for Rodgers and the switches failed to have the desired effect, leaving the visiting Bhoys faithful watching a disjointed performance from their side.
So what can the supporters take away from defeat?
This is Futbol has rounded up three things learned from the clash:
Defenders the problem once again
While the scoreline might suggest that things were comfortable for Leipzig – which for much of the game they were – there were still times when Celtic threatened to cause something of an upset at the home of the Germans.
Their attack, led by Odsonne Edouard and supported by the likes of Callum McGregor, kept finding their way through the opposition and putting the defence under pressure, with one shot in the first half whistling past the post close enough to have the home fans’ hearts in the mouths.
It was at the back where the problems lay and those in the defence ought to owe their team mates further up the pitch an apology for allowing to let the game get beyond the reach of the Bhoys.
As time went on things became comfortable for Leipzig, but that was because they were 2-0 up – and the fault for that lies at the defence.
Rodgers taking Europa League lightly
Fans hoping to see their best possible starting XI starting in Germany would have been left bitterly disappointed as Brendan Rodgers named a strange looking line up.
The likes of Lewis Morgan and Ryan Christie were handed surprise starts, and if that does not show where the manager’s priorities lie then nothing will.
Yes, the Hoops would love to progress on the European stage but Rodgers seems to have his sights set elsewhere – rightly or wrongly – and that lack of first team regulars saw the Bhoys pay the price with a hit-and-miss display.
Gamboa must be exiled after dire display
There were very few things for the Hoops faithful to celebrate during the disappointing performance in Germany but there was plenty to tear apart, and Cristian Gamboa will receive much of the brunt.
The Costa Rica international was handed a rare start in what was just his fifth appearance of the season, but failed to do anything to suggest that he should be handed another outing any time soon.
It was a lazy defensive display which hit a serious low when he appeared to feign injury in the aftermath of the second Leipzig goal to try and excuse what was his poor attempts to stop the ball in the build up.
Mikael Lustig might not be a Parkhead favourite but he offers so much more and as such his 29-year-old understudy needs to be exiled from the first team, for he has no future with the Hoops.