Leckie Gets Celtic’s Tounekti Wrong
Jota’s return was special, but Tounekti deserved credit for his own strong performance at Fir Park.
Phillip Cooney 
Leckie Gets Celtic’s Tounekti Wrong
I partly agree with Bill Leckie’s broader point about Celtic needing more directness from their wingers. Too often, promising attacks slow down before they become dangerous.
But after Motherwell, his verdict on Sebastian Tounekti was unfair.
Tounekti had a good game. He was involved, kept asking for the ball and delivered dangerous crosses. Celtic’s attacks repeatedly came through him. That is not a player simply hiding from his full-back or holding up the team.
Jota’s cameo is not the whole story
Jota’s return was a wonderful moment, and his quick movement after coming on showed why Celtic have missed him. He brought urgency and imagination. Nobody should pretend otherwise.
But a lively cameo does not erase what Tounekti had contributed during the match. Leckie made Jota’s brief appearance the measuring stick for the player he replaced, then used it to deliver a sweeping judgement about Tounekti’s habits.
That is where the argument goes too far.
The article appeared after the match, yet it reads as though Leckie had settled on his criticism already and saw Jota’s return as confirmation. I cannot know when he formed that view. I can say the final verdict does not fairly reflect Tounekti’s performance at Fir Park.
Criticism still has to be fair
I have criticised Tounekti myself. I still have doubts about whether he is good enough to become the consistent, decisive winger Celtic need. One good performance does not settle that debate, just as one short cameo from Jota does not settle it in the opposite direction.
That is precisely why the assessment should be measured. Tounekti has to show this level regularly, take defenders on more often and turn his deliveries into chances. Those are fair demands.
But supporters and pundits should also recognise when a player has done well. If Tounekti puts in a strong shift, contributes to Celtic’s attacking play and helps the team win, he deserves credit for that afternoon.
The standards should apply to everyone
Celtic need competition on the wings. Jota’s return, Haissem Hassan’s energy and Tounekti’s performance give Martin O’Neill more choices. That is healthy for the team.
Leckie is entitled to his opinion. But being outspoken does not make every judgement fair. Tounekti may still have plenty to prove at Celtic. On this occasion, though, the criticism missed the mark.
