BBC Sportsound pundit Tam McManus has blasted Celtic left-back Boli Bolingoli for his performance in the 4-1 win away against AIK on Thursday night.
Although the Hoops booked their spot in the Europa League group stages with a comprehensive 6-1 victory on aggregate, ex-Hibernian forward McManus was less than impressed with what he saw from summer signing Bolingoli.
He believes that if the Belgian full-back plays like that at Ibrox on Sunday then Rangers will have a field day while playing against him.
“Bolingoli is a bombscare defensively good footballer going forward but can’t defend. Critical Celtic get in a proper defensive-minded left back before the window closes. If he plays on Sunday no doubt Rangers will get after him all day long much like they did with [Mikael] Lustig,” said McManus via his personal Twitter account during the game on Thursday.
Bolingoli is a bombscare defensively good footballer going forward but can’t defend. Critical Celtic get in a proper defensive minded left back before the window closes. If he plays on Sunday no doubt Rangers will get after him all day long much like they did with Lustig.
— Tam McManus (@The_Tman10) August 29, 2019
Defensive frailties
Celtic may have a 100 per cent record in the Scottish Premiership so far but their defence has still not looked as solid as it should be in wins against Motherwell and Hearts.
Even when you go back to the first round of Champions League qualifying, the Bhoys conceded goals in both legs against FK Sarajevo before Cluj dumped them out by scoring five times against them over two legs.
Neil Lennon’s attack is on fire but his defence is leaking goals and that could be a problem when his side take on rivals Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday in the league.
Steven Gerrard’s side has started the season equally as well as the Bhoys and have been scoring goals for fun against the likes of Hibernian and Midtjylland.
Bolingoli’s defensive performance was shaky at best against AIK on Thursday night as the Belgian full-back gave away a penalty in the Swedish capital.
He could be someone who is exposed by the in-form Rangers attack.
Other options?
Kieran Tierney’s exit in the summer has left Celtic extremely short of quality in the left-back area.
It was always going to be difficult to replace the Scotland international, who had been so impressive in his time at Celtic Park.
Bolingoli was signed to replace Tierney but away from him, the only natural left-back in Lennon’s squad is the inexperienced Calvin Miller, who has only ever made five first-team appearances for the Hoops.
New arrival Moritz Bauer is naturally a right-back but can play on the opposite side of the back-four as well.
According to transfermarkt, the former Stoke defender has made 33 appearances at left-back in his career.
However, it would take a very bold move by Lennon to hand the Austria international his debut in the Old Firm derby this weekend while also playing him in a position he’s not exactly proficient in.