That was rather interesting from Celtic.
It has been a mixed week for Brendan Rodgers in pre-season because he has got the best of both worlds.
From Celtic putting four goals past Newcastle United last week in Glasgow to then travelling to Como in Italy and getting thrashed by Ajax.
It proves that you shouldn’t get too high or too low in pre-season, but that still doesn’t hide the fact that the fans are frustrated.
With Celtic signing seven players during the 2025 summer transfer window, but several of them being project signings or inexperienced players, then it just adds fuel to the fire.
But Gabby Agbonlahor tried to calm the situation down.
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
The team that Rodgers put out was fairly strong, including starts for Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Hyunjun Yang, Anthony Ralston, Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.
At the break, everything was rosy in the garden because the scores were level, but after the hour mark, that’s when things started to change, and the tide turned in a way the Celtic fans didn’t like.
Either way, speaking alongside Alan Brazil on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor played down the result by stating ‘it doesn’t matter’, and how some fans ‘don’t get’ that players might do some running in the morning, before playing in the evening.
“Well, Celtic reserves lost to Ajax last night, by all accounts,” said Brazil.
Agbonlahor then interrupted: “Wasn’t it the first team, Celtic?” to which Brazil responded: “I don’t know. I have no idea.”
Agbonlahor then added: “But, Al. It doesn’t matter, pre-season. You know what it’s like. Everyone is at a different stage of their fitness.”
Brazil then stated: “By the way, I am not bragging. I am just saying, Celtic beat them (Newcastle). I am stating a fact.”
Agbonlahor then shared: “Some pre-season games, you ran in the morning, and played in the evening. That’s what people don’t get with pre-season. They don’t look into it.”
What’s remaining for Celtic in pre-season?
Celtic’s opening clash against St Mirren is on August 3, as one more pre-season match awaits the champions of Scotland.
It has been a mixed bag, and the mood needs to be lifted because the players don’t have long to rest and recover.
Unfortunately, Celtic won’t be coming up against Nicolas Kuhn or Alex Valle, because Como reached the final, so instead it’s a third-place clash against Saudi Pro League side, Al Ahli.
