It really was a game of two halves as Celtic lost to Ajax in Como tonight.
Celtic started off the brighter side and were unlucky not to go in front on two occasions after Hyunjun Yang smashed the crossbar just minutes after kick-off.
Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren also showed real intent on the Celtic flanks with the Swede looking menacing for much of the first 45.
However, against the run of play, Ajax took the lead in the 16th minute through Steven Berghuis with Yang equalising less than ten minutes later.
Both teams went in at the break level as Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made two changes taking off Kieran Tierney and Dane Murray for Hayato Inamura and Cameron Carter-Vickers and from there, everything fell apart for the Bhoys.
Ajax took a 2-1 lead just seconds after the restart as Ajax captain Davy Klaasen pounced on a Kasper Schmeichel save.
10 minutes later it was three for the Dutch side as they turned the screw with Berghuis grabbing his second of the game.
The game was all over by the 71st minute as Aaron Bouwman produced a stunning strike and then Rayane Bounida struck on the 83rd minute to ensure Celtic left the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium with a 5-1 defeat ringing in their ears.
With all that in mind, here are five things we learned after Ajax taught Celtic a lesson in Como.
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
Let’s start with the positives. Celtic duo Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren looked solid in the first 45 minutes in Como.
Tierney would have been hoping to carry on his good form after impressing in Celtic’s 4-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend.
Assisting in Celtic’s fourth goal in that game, Tierney had a big hand in Celtic’s equaliser with a lovely through ball for Reo Hatate to lay on Hyunjun Yang. Also looked solid defensively.
Benjamin Nygren started the game lively and showed energy and endeavour on the right wing. Was unlucky not to nab his first Celtic goal after a good save by the Ajax goalkeeper in the first few minutes.
Nygren certainly looks a steal for Celtic and fans will be keen to see him kick on despite this disappointing score line.
Celtic released the first-team line-up that was due to play Ajax in their usual pre-match tweet around about an hour before kick-off.
Shin Yamada was named amongst the substitutes as Celtic fans hoped to catch a glimpse of the man who was faster than Hoops hero Daizen Maeda in the J League.
But it was changed not long after Yamada was removed from the starting squad as Celtic tweeted out a new team sheet.
Fans will be wondering what happened to the new Bhoy considering Celtic TV didn’t bother quizzing Rodgers during his pre-match interview about the mysterious team lines change.
Celtic have added seven new faces to the squad this summer but this defeat to Ajax showed that there are still glaring deficiencies that need to be addressed.
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
If Daizen Maeda is to be used on the flanks next season, then a quality striker is still needed to provide support to Adam Idah and Johnny Kenny.
The attacking flanks also require at least two new quality wingers to help unlock defences and there needs to be a new central and right-sided defender added as well.
Much work is needing done by Rodgers. Let’s hope Celtic will make more signings than merchandise releases this summer.
The bigger picture, this is still only pre-season and the Celtic team are still building up match sharpness and fitness.
That being said, losing five goals at ANY point is unacceptable and Brendan Rodgers will know this.
All eyes will be on the game against Al-Ahli at the weekend where Celtic supporters will be expecting a much stronger starting line-up with the Scottish Premiership kick-off just over ten days away.
Rodgers still has plenty of time to get reinforcements in but should the Celtic boss start the season with squad as it currently stands, fans will rightly be worried as the Champions League qualifier nears too.
Benjamin NygrenHyunjun YangKieran TierneyPre-Season 2025Shin Yamada
