Sutton compels Rodgers to adapt style of play for European competition

Celtic’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Valencia in the first leg of the Round-of-32 tie has left fans reeling. 

The Hoops faithful have not seen their side progress through a European knockout tie since the 2003-04 season, when they progresses to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup – beating Barcelona along the way. 

A critical member of that side was Chris Sutton, and the former striker has sounded off on what he considers to be tactical inflexibility on the part of manager Brendan Rodgers. 

Writing in his Daily Record column, Sutton said: 

It’s not just the boys on the pitch who have decisions to make.

It’s the manager himself and the guys in the boardroom.

Rodgers has done brilliantly for Celtic domestically. He’s still on for a treble Treble. But when it comes to Europe, it’s a different thing and maybe he needs to change.

The player-turned-pundit went on to concede that the Northern Irishman was drumming the right things into his squad, but needed to change things up when entering the European theatre. 

Rodgers wants Celtic to play from the back, do it the right way. I admire that to a point, but not beyond the point where it’s been shown time and again the team can’t do it against the better sides in Europe.

Eventually, Celtic give it away under pressure. The touch goes, the passes start going out of the park.

You’re just inviting trouble and offering the opposition a comfortable way into the game. Valencia wasn’t the first time. It’s happened loads of times. It even happened domestically at Ibrox and Rodgers surely has to take responsibility.

Testing times for the former Liverpool boss.