Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic won in the Scottish Cup at the weekend and are in Europa League action on Thursday.
Michael Stewart has suggested to BBC Sport that Celtic could struggle in Europe defensively.
The former Manchester United and Hibernian midfielder, who now works as a pundit for BBC Sport, made the comments following Celtic’s 3-2 victory over Partick Thistle at Celtic Park in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at the weekend.
Brendan Rodgers’s side will take on Russian Premier League outfit Zenit Saint Peterburg at Celtic Park in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32 tie on Thursday evening.
Stewart told BBC Sport: “But, at the other end, when you gift opportunities like they did, you will get punished.
“If they do that in the European ties coming up, they are in big trouble. The defence is not playing to the standard Brendan Rodgers would hope.”
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton also pointed out the the problems the Hoops have at the back following the win on Saturday afternoon on social networking site Twitter.
Need to improve
Celtic have a good attacking lineup, but defensively the Hoops are not exactly great.
Zenit are a good team, and the Hoops will have to find a way to stop the Russian club from scoring at Celtic Park in the first leg.
Injuries to key defenders, such as Dedryck Boyata, have not helped, but the Glasgow giants have to be strong at the back on Thursday evening to have any chance of progressing further in the Europa League this season.
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