Celtic legend Chris Sutton has recently been talking about how Celtic can set up tactically in the upcoming Old Firm derby.
Sutton was a guest on the latest episode of the Record Celtic podcast and the panel discussed multiple issues involving the Bhoys. The upcoming Old Firm derby was the main topic of discussion. Sutton spoke about how Celtic can set up against the Gers in a tactical sense and he believes that it isn’t impossible that Neil Lennon’s men revert to a back four.
The Hoops have lined up in a back three on a regular basis in recent weeks, but they had started the league season while playing in a back four. Against St. Johnstone recently, they had used a 3-4-1-2 shape.
Should Celtic play in a back three in the Old Firm?
Yes
No
Sutton believes that it isn’t impossible that the Hoops play a back four in the Old Firm derby on Saturday as well.
He said: “I don’t think it is impossible that Celtic go back to a back four in this game just with the nature of what may be the best setup he might feel that Celtic can be a little bit more solid. If that happens, he’s got many different options of the way he could play. Kristoffer Ajer could go over to right-back. I wouldn’t have thought he’d do that because of Ryan Kent.
“I think he’d want [Jeremie] Frimpong in that match-up but he does have options. [There is] plenty of food for thought for Neil Lennon but certainly, it doesn’t have to be a game where Celtic have to go out and from the first whistle, just think about domination. It is about just boxing smart, boxing clever, [being] difficult to beat and [causing] Rangers problems on the counter.”
TIF Thoughts…
The Hoops had used a back three multiple times in the second half of the league campaign in the 2019/20 season. When they played a back three in the Premiership last season, they didn’t lose a single game (as per Transfermarkt).
Even in the current campaign, the Bhoys haven’t lost a single game in all competitions while playing in a back three, which may suggest that it would be a slight surprise if Sutton’s prediction was to be proved right. It also shows that perhaps, Celtic play at their best while using a back three and in an important game, they might have to play to their strengths if they want to beat the Gers. So perhaps, using a back three might be Celtic’s best bet at winning the Old Firm.