Teemu Pukki was unsuccessful at Celtic but is starring for Norwich City.
Ex-Finland boss Mixu Paatelainen has attempted to explain Teemu Pukki’s unsuccessful stint with Celtic, speaking to The Herald.
The striker is scoring for fun at Norwich, netting 25 times this season and also has nine assists, leading the Canaries’ promotion charge.
Pukki scored only nine goals for Celtic by comparison and was dismissed as a flop.
Paatelainen has defended Pukki, pointing to his current record.
He believes if Pukki was given more chances, he would have become a regular goalscorer for Celtic.
He said: “It wasn’t a successful time for him there but sometimes that happens. It doesn’t mean someone should be considered a flop or a failure. He has proved that ever since
“He is not a very strong character who runs the show so going to the Celtic dressing room with very strong characters that might have affected Teemu’s personality and confidence a little bit.
“But I am very sure that if he had stayed longer at Celtic, he would have scored goals for them. Sometimes you get that sticky spell. For some reason or another, things don’t always run smoothly.”
Pukki was 23 when he signed for Celtic in 2013 and left a year later, recovering his confidence at Brondby, before joining Norwich last summer.
Norwich deserve credit for taking a gamble on him and making it work.
He was signed by Celtic by Neil Lennon, who is currently back as interim boss at Parkhead.
Pukki’s subsequent success will probably make him feel better that he was right all along.
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