Real Betis were left stunned as Ange Postecoglou’s much-changed Celtic flew out of the blocks during their 3-2 UEFA Europa League victory at Parkhead, manager Manuel Pellegrini tells Mundo Deportivo.
The Celtic supporters may have been fearing the worst when the team news filtered through on Thursday afternoon.
With the Hoops already condemned to Conference League football after Christmas, Postecoglou took the opportunity to bestow first-team debuts upon former Sheffield Wednesday pair Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide against a side sitting third in the La Liga table.
Liam Scales also made his maiden start in green and white, as Kyogo Furuhashi, David Turnbull, Callum McGregor and co began the game on the bench.
So Stephen Welsh’s third-minute opener, flicked home following a wicked Liel Abada corner, certainly helped calm any nerves on the terraces, while leaving an in-form Betis reeling.
Who impressed for Celtic against Real Betis?
“They surprised us with the goal after two minutes,” admits Pellegrini, the former Real Madrid and Manchester City coach, who’s side eventually went down 3-2 thanks to a Turnbull winner from the penalty spot.
“We are in the next round, but I am not happy. We had nineteen shots, of which seven or eight were on target.”
Martin Montoya, the one-time Barcelona right-back, struck a similar tone to his manager, claiming that Real Betis were taken aback by Celtic’s all-action start to proceedings.
“We started uncomfortably when they pressed high,” Montoya says, via Sevilla ABC.
The strength in depth available to Postecoglou – or a lack thereof – has been a major cause for consternation among Celtic supporters and the manager himself this season.
Impressive, mature performances from Scales, Shaw, Urhoghide and co could hardly have come at a better time. The January transfer window, after all, is just a few weeks away.
Scotland U21 international Ewan Henderson also netted his first Celtic goal after coming off the bench in the second half.
Celtic are still expected to reinforce their squad in the winter with an £850,000 deal for Gamba Osaka midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi on the brink of completion.
The Glasgow giants are also closing in on two more J-League stars, Reo Hatate and Golden Boot-winner Daizen Maeda.
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