Former Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley believes fellow Welshman Craig Bellamy is "a perfect fit" to be Parkhead manager, who would be "very interested" in doing so either later this season or in future. Ledley is still close with the Wales manager and believes his "aggressive, front-foot" style with the national team would transfer well to Celtic and that the only thing stopping the move could be timing.
But Midtjylland got the breakthrough after recycling a corner in the 33rd minute, with Erlic rising highest to thump his header past Schmeichel. Just 98 seconds later, Gogorza, who assisted the first goal, got the hosts' second. He danced between two Celtic defenders as he cut inside from the left before bending a brilliant shot around Schmeichel into the far side of the net.
We've been very, very successful but it's because of hard work. There's no shortcut. The reason why we've been successful is because we're willing to fight and stick together and be a team. It's time for everyone to step up a level. I've still got no doubt that we're a good team and it will click. We just have to click maybe quicker than what it looks like at the minute.
"This is a guy who's given absolutely everything for this club," Rodgers said. "But it's so important that you don't get caught up in this mentality of 'it's not fair' because it's very dangerous territory and it's hard to move on from."
Image source, SNS Celtic's business in this transfer window "reeks of incompetence". It's an "absolute embarrassment". Fans are "no longer surprised, just disappointed". The Scottish Premiership champions' board are "actively managing a decline", and the failure to significantly enhance the squad "feels like self sabotage". The Glasgow outfit have "proven again they are not a serious football club" and manager Brendan Rodgers "would be justified in leaving this time".
Image source, SNS Celtic are about to set off to Kazakhstan on the most important trip of their season. They do so on the back of three goals, three points and a decent-enough display, from a much-changed team against Livingston, which keeps up the Scottish champions' perfect domestic start. Amid all that at Celtic Park on Saturday, there was some of the stodginess that characterised the drab goalless first leg against the Kazakhs and more grumbling from the fans.
Having asserted themselves from the off, Celtic were well-contained by Kairat, who saw Edmilson's goal-bound header cleared by Kieran Tierney at the back post. Celtic then thought they had fallen behind in the 11th minute after Alyaksandr Martynovich had the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside. The Scottish champions struggled to break a resilient Kairat down, with the Bhoys dealt a blow after the half-hour mark when Alistair Johnston was stretchered off with an injury.
"Sadly for us and for him, he'll be out for a period of time, probably six to nine months. Obviously it's the cruciate and it was worse than we'd hoped, but he's very philosophical in his life and he knows he's going to get all the support."
