Celtic and Brendan Rodgers have, quite rightly, been receiving some great plaudits for their performances and results on the US Tour.
Beating DC United, Man City and Chelsea and scoring four goals in every game in the process is nothing to be sniffed at as Celtic’s preparations for the new season ahead couldn’t have gone any better.
However, it was Shaka Hislop’s view on Celtic’s win over Chelsea that caught my eye as the former Newcastle United and West Ham stopper delivered his view on how he thought the 4-1 thrashing of the Premier League side went.
Celtic did ‘nothing special’ in Chelsea win
Speaking about how poor Chelsea were, Hislop gave Celtic no credit for the job that they did in dismantling Enzo Maresca’s team.
Hislop said [ESPN], “I saw it totally differently. I thought that the third goal was the least of Chelsea’s concerns.
“Admittedly Celtic are far further ahead in their preseason but building out from the back and getting those understandings and building those relationships with your back the case of Sanchez, I think that comes with with time.
“That comes with games in the preseason but all the other three goals and the three goals, Celtic did nothing special to create the opportunities.
“There was no big switch of play there was no Tony Kroos or Luca Modric spraying out the pressure in the midfield.
“It was just a couple of long passes, ball over the top and Celtic were in. It was the most basic of defending that Chelsea were unable to do.
“So I get the point that yes, it’s still early and Maresca still has lots to do in terms of in terms of pressing but just in terms of basic defending I thought Chelsea was just so poor on the night and were exposed as a result.”
Look, I am a realist, I get it was a friendly match but credit where credit is due. Beating any Premier League with the ease that Celtic did with the resources and players that Chelsea have at their disposal deserves a lot of praise.
Every one of Celtic’s goals was well-worked and clinically finished. O’Riley’s opener was a well-worked goal down Chelsea’s left-hand side and finished off beautifully by the Dane.
Celtic carved open Chelsea well as Hatate and Kyogo combined with brilliantly timed runs. Celtic’s third was down to the work Brendan Rodgers’ team put into the press as Luis Palma grabbed his second of the tour.
And the fourth and final goal was an excellent chip over the top by Matt O’Riley as he found Mikey Johnston who made a lovely defence-splitting run and finished well under the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Celtic made Chelsea look like an ordinary run-of-the-mill football team and the the fact that Hislop refused to see that is, quite frankly, just bizarre.
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