Last night’s result was a tough one for Celtic, Brendan Rodgers, the players and the fans to take.
The Champions League can be an unforgiving place and Celtic have found that to their cost last night after being humbled 6-0 by Atletico Madrid.
And whilst a lot of the blame for the result can be laid down to the Hoops being down to ten men, Paul Lambert believes that the La Liga side’s tactics were also a huge factor in the win and said he’s never seen a team do that against his old club.
Lambert said [Talksport], “I was at the game last night and I have to tell you it was one of the best stadiums I have ever been in.
“The sending off, VAR does my head in anyway, people are getting sent off for anything which is a joke, and it changes the dynamic of the game.
“But Madrid are the only team I have ever seen to play a back five, three in the middle and two lads up-front at home against 10 men.
“Simeone has them drilled that way, fair play for them for doing it, but it was a tough night.”
It was a tactical masterclass by Simeone and when you have players of the quality of Antoine Griezemann, Saul Niguez, Alvaro Morata and Rodrigo Riquelme at hand, it is little wonder the Spanish side were rampant.
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However, Celtic didn’t help themselves. Brendan Rodgers still looked to attack the La Liga side even when down to ten men and paid a costly price for that.
For now, Celtic will need to lick their wounds and look to make a quick recovery against Aberdeen on Sunday.
SPFL duty beckons and Brendan Rodgers knows that he cannot allow the reverberations of this result to creep into domestic performances or their lead at the top of the table could be threatened.
Nothing but a comprehensive win against Aberdeen will do but with Barry Robson’s men in a decent run of form, Celtic will be tested by the Pittodrie club.
In other news, ‘There’s no doubt’… Brendan Rodgers makes claim about the referee in Celtic’s game vs Atletico