Murdo MacLeod: Celtic have gone backwards
October 25, 2018
Ex-Scotland international Murdo MacLeod says Celtic missed the chance to move forward this season and he believes a poor summer transfer window has seen the club take a backwards step.
Celtic have been untouchable on the domestic stage for several years and the Scottish giants completed the double-treble last season, winning the league title for the 49th time, the Scottish Cup for the 38th and the League Cup for the 17th.
European progress has often been the issue for the Bhoys and their last deep run in Europe came in the 2003-04 campaign when they reached the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Cup.
Brendan Rodgers was hopeful of bringing in a number of reinforcements this summer but he was left frustrated with the lack of quality signings coming through the Parkhead door.
Daniel Arzani and Filip Benkovic arrived on season-long loans, Scott Bain, Emilio Izaguirre and Youssouf Mulumbu joined on free transfers whilst Odsonne Edouard joined permanently after an impressive loan spell in the previous campaign.
Stuart Armstrong and Moussa Dembele were both allowed to leave Celtic and MacLeod believes a poor summer of business has seen his former employers’ progress stagnate.
“In his last transfer window Brendan wasn’t allowed to bring in the players he wanted to. That has hindered Celtic,” he was quoted as saying by the Herald Scotland.
“After being in the Champions League two years in a row and doing alright they had to make a step forward this season. It didn’t happen. Brendan hasn’t made the side better than it was in the past and he knows that.”
Celtic take on RB Leipzig on Thursday in the Europa League before returning to domestic action on Sunday in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Hearts.
The holders are 1.53 to pick up the win, a draw is priced at 4.00 whilst their opponents are the 5.50 outsiders.
