Scottish Premiership: Celtic vs Motherwell
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow | Date: Sunday, 4 October | Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Celtic’s once-swift, attacking machine is struggling to find its spark this season. Brendan Rodgers faces a challenge to reignite his team’s attacking verve as they prepare to host a confident Motherwell on Sunday.
A Historic Drop in Goals
Celtic’s 2-0 home defeat to Braga on Thursday marked their fifth goalless outing of the season in just 12 matches—a feat not seen since 1991-92. Even with Kelechi Iheanacho’s disallowed strike against Braga, the underlying issue is clear: Celtic are creatively out of sorts.
Last season, Celtic went goalless only five times across 57 games, and under Ange Postecoglou’s second season, they failed to score just four times in 53 matches. In comparison, Premiership rivals like Hearts, Motherwell, Dundee United, Hibs, Kilmarnock, and Livingston have already outscored Celtic.
Rodgers has acknowledged the problem, emphasizing the need to find a solution before it affects the team’s league position further.
Loss of Key Game-Breakers
Celtic’s decline in attacking potency is closely tied to the departure of vital offensive talents. Players such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, Liel Abada, Nicolas Kuhn, and Matt O’Riley accounted for a combined total of over 227 goals and 120 assists since Jota’s 2023 exit.
These players brought pace, creativity, and unpredictability—an X-factor that could unlock tight defenses. With many gone and replacements still adapting, Celtic lack the firepower to consistently convert chances.
Even in recent Champions League matches, statistics reveal a worrying drop: an xG (expected goals) of 0.56 and 1.22 against Kairat Almaty, 0.19 against Rangers, and 0.64 versus Braga—figures well below the team’s output in previous high-profile games.
Struggling New Signings
While Sebastian Tounekti and Iheanacho show promise, the rest of Celtic’s attack has been underwhelming. Maeda has struggled, James Forrest is past his prime, and newcomers like Shin Yamada and Callum Osmand haven’t broken into Rodgers’ Europa League plans.
Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate, typically influential, have yet to deliver the kind of form that drives the team. Even Benjamin Nygren, while contributing, has yet to match the creativity of O’Riley.
Rodgers’ hands are tied, and poor recruitment decisions in recent transfer windows are a recurring concern.
Injury Woes Compound Problems
Celtic have also suffered from key absences. Alistair Johnston, sidelined with a hamstring injury since 20 August, has missed eight games, during which Celtic have won only three times. His return after the international break should provide Rodgers with a much-needed boost on both defense and attack.
Can Rodgers Turn Things Around?
Celtic were booed off after the Braga defeat, reflecting fans’ frustration. Starting against Motherwell on Sunday, Rodgers must coax the team back into form, restore attacking confidence, and bring verve to a side that has lost its finishing edge.
The first step may be getting game-breakers like Hatate, McGregor, and Tounekti firing again while integrating newcomers effectively. If Celtic can rediscover their attacking X-factor, they may yet salvage a strong start to the Premiership season.
