Celtic crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Stoke City boss Paul Lambert has told the The Herald that he thinks fans must be realistic in their desire to see Celtic make a marquee signing, as players want to play in England, Germany or Spain rather than Scotland.
Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Pittodrie this afternoon in order to move back to nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, as they move another step closer to a seventh consecutive league title.
However, fans are still a little disappointed with the manner of Celtic’s Europa League exit, as having beat Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 in the first leg of their round of 32 clash, the Bhoys went to Russia on Thursday night and lost 3-0 to crash out of the competition.
Supporters were hoping for an extended run in the competition but crashed out at the first hurdle following their Champions League exit, and some have been left to question Celtic’s approach under Brendan Rodgers – both on and off the pitch.
Rodgers’ side continue to be shaky defensively outside of Scottish football, whilst the club haven’t broken their transfer record in almost 17 years, after paying £6million to sign John Hartson from Coventry City back in 2001.
Fans want to see Celtic splash the cash on a major new signing to boost their European fortunes, but Rodgers has instead taken the likes of Patrick Roberts and Charly Musonda on loan, or gone from bargains such as Moussa Dembele and Eboue Kouassi.
Now, former Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert – currently managing Premier League side Stoke City – has offered his view on the Bhoys’ situation in an interview with The Herald.
Lambert has suggested that fans need to be more realistic in their hopes to see Celtic make a marquee signing, as players would rather go to England, Germany or Spain than Scotland due to the difference in finances, whilst he also called on Celtic to be stronger defensively under Rodgers.
“It is difficult,” said Lambert. “You have some money there but it is small fry compared to what is going on elsewhere. You can sense the do it, do it, do it, approach from supporters desperate to go out and spend money on a marquee name but it isn’t as straightforward as that. Players want to play in Germany, in Spain, in England. They can command salary levels that are out of the reach of any Scottish club regardless of whether they are on a sound financial footing or not.”
“But for me, the only way you get better at European football is by playing it again and again. And you have to be able to defend. Brendan will know that more than anyone,” he added.
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