Celtic

Celtic captain Callum McGregor had heaps of praise for fellow midfielder Reo Hatate after his late penalty rebound rescued a point away to rivals Rangers. The defending champions grip on the title was loosening more after each Rangers’ attack which seen the Ibrox side only 2-0 up by half time in a contest that could have been out of sight. But goals from Kieran Tierney and substitute Hatate earned the Hoops a deserved point in the second period, and McGregor credited an ‘outstanding’ performance from the Japan international. McGregor said post-match: “Reo was outstanding in the second half. He is a player that can do special things. “When he comes in and he plays the way he does against Rangers then you see him. He’s a real high-level player and you have to stay on top of him all the time to get the best out of him. “I think the last two games he’s been outstanding, so if that is him just starting to creep in terms of levels, and for sure we will need everyone at their best but especially a player like him, he’s a special player and if you can get him firing then he’s a real asset.” Hatate started on the bench to make way for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and skipper McGregor believes there is still more to come from the former Liverpool man once he is fully up to speed after he was brought off at half-time for the eventual goalscorer. “The subs probably changed the game for us as well as us doubling down on what it is we want to do. “Obviously Alex has just come in, and it is really difficult to get up to speed. I mean this game is hard enough when you’re fully fit and you’re in the rhythm and everything else, it’s still a difficult game to play. “He’s a top-class player, and has won a lot in the game, so we’ll need that experience and quality.” The salvaged point gives Celtic the opportunity to leapfrog Rangers into second place on Wednesday night in their game in hand at Aberdeen, and McGregor believes the number of late goals shows that they cannot be counted out the title race just yet. “At 2-0 down with their fans going crazy, it’s a tough place to come. That’s not an easy situation, but full credit to the boys for the second half. “Maybe the last four or five weeks, it [mental strength] has been evident. Football’s not easy, it never goes to plan a lot of the time as well. “You can plan for things, but in the moments when you’re up against it, you need characters, you need personality, to take the ball and play your way back into the game. There’s no better place to do that than Ibrox. “It shows everyone that we are right in this. Obviously with a game in hand which hopefully will nudge us closer as well and then we charge down these last sort of eight games and see where we can get to.” A win for Celtic on Wednesday takes them a point above Rangers and five behind leaders Hearts. With both likely to travel to Celtic Park after the split, this title race has plenty more twists and turns in store before May.

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has said that he ‘doesn’t go back’ when asked about a potential return on The Overlap. The Australian won five trophies in his two-season stint in Parkhead, three of those coming in his second season, and made himself a fan-favourite in the process. Now out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in October, the 60-year-old has suggested his next job will not be in Glasgow. He told The Overlap: “I loved Celtic, mate. What a football club. “If I was younger, I would probably have stayed there longer. I probably would’ve stayed there three, four years. I think I could’ve made progress with them in Europe. “But at the time, like I said it had taken me a long time to get to this sort of space that the opportunity to join Tottenham was too good. “In terms of going back, I don’t go back. I just don’t think that’s kind of been my career. “Whatever the next step is, it will be something new, something I can make an impact in, somewhere I can win things. “It doesn’t diminish the affection I have for Celtic. It was a great experience. For two years, to be within a community that is so passionate, and it’s crazy how passionate they are about their football club. “Obviously I was fortunate enough to have success, so it’s a positive experience, and I loved every minute of it. I look back on it fondly but I won’t go back. I don’t think that is how my career has played out.” Postecoglou also commented on how intense the ‘Glasgow fishbowl’ can be, as he found out in his maiden season. “Nobody is going to talk to me about rivalry, I lived and breathed it there. “The perfect weekend in Scotland is Celtic winning, Rangers losing. Celtic winning, Rangers winning is not a good weekend. “I remember the first year I was there we won the double but Rangers were in the Europa League final. I got more text messages the night they lost the Europa League final than the night we won the league.” Celtic have Martin O’Neill in temporary charge for the rest of the season, with fans hoping that a suitable permanent successor will be announced with plenty of time to oversee the squad after the disastrous appointment of Wilfried Nancy.

Celtic midfielder Paulo Bernardo refused to rule out a return to his native Portugal as the former Benfica midfielder struggles for game time. The 24-year-old fell out of favour at Parkhead this season, averaging just over half an hour across his seventeen appearances in all competitions. And with three and a half years left to run on his current deal, there is a possibility that the former Portugal U21’s captain may be offloaded for a fee this summer. Bernardo told Portuguese group Sapo: “I love Portugal. For me, living in Portugal is a privilege, so it [move back] could happen. “I don’t know what will happen, but I see it in a positive light, and I’m not closing any doors.” The Benfica academy graduate last featured in league action when he played the whole first half of Celtic’s 2-0 defeat at Motherwell before New Year under Wilfried Nancy. But even since the return of interim boss Martin O’Neill, the Northern Irishman has opted to use Bernardo for cup ties and and European substitute cameos. And Bernardo himself admitted that this season has been far from plain-sailing. “We struggled for half the season, but we’re managing to get back into the rhythm. “Things have been going well, and I think we’re giving a good response after that more negative period. “It’s been a somewhat complicated season, but I’ve been trying my best to fight for my place and do what I’ve done in recent seasons.” There is a possibility that Bernardo plays a role in Celtic’s Europa League fixture tonight at home to Stuttgart, with club record signing Arne Engels out injured, and new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unregistered. “We’re in a good moment to face Stuttgart. German teams are quite competitive. “They run a lot, so the game won’t be easy, and we play the first leg at home, so that might give us a bit of an advantage.” Reports suggested that Celtic knocked back a late January window loan move from an unnamed Danish club for Bernardo, however it remains to be seen whether there is a way back in for Bernardo amid a plethora of options. Celtic face VfB Stuttgart at Celtic Park tonight in the Europa League, before another home contest against Hibernian this Sunday in the Premiership.

Celtic have signed former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer. The 32-year-old has been without a club since having his contract terminated at Turkish side Besiktas in August last year and has been maintaining his fitness by training at former club Arsenal. Reports suggested Mikel Arteta was weighing up a short-term deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain amid an injury crisis, but no offer materialised. Oxlade-Chamberlain told club channels: “Speaking with the manager, it just felt like the perfect fit for me and I feel like I can come in and help out the lads. “Just talking to the manager, and Shaun Maloney as well, who told the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are that he’s going to push me.  “It’s exactly what I need. I need another challenge and lucky enough at a massive club like this. And they can help me get back to where I need to get to and, more importantly, I need to help the team achieve the goals that we want to do.” The ex-England international’s career began at Southampton before moving to Arsenal a week before his 18th birthday. He spent six years at the Emirates, where he won three F.A Cups, and then switched to Liverpool. He enjoyed the most successful period of his career at Anfield, winning the Premier League in 2020, and the Champions League in 2019, where he would stay until 2023 before moving to Besiktas. Amassing 35 caps for England, two of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s seven goals for his country have came against Scotland, including the opener in a 3-1 victory in a 2014 friendly at Celtic Park.  Celtic’s next game is at home against Livingston, which could see Martin O’Neill hand his newest recruit a debut either in the starting eleven or from the bench. 

Celtic have signed SC Freiburg striker Junior Adamu on loan until the end of the season, with an option included to later make the move permanent. The Austrian International has scored one goal in nine Bundesliga appearances this season, and becomes the Parkhead side’s third arrival this window. And the 24-year-old is relishing the chance to revive his form that earned him a move to Germany in 2023. He told Celtic’s official website: “I’m very excited to be here and I can’t wait to get started. “I want to give my best for this club and try and win the title, and also the cup, and to score a lot of goals and help the team, and I also want to improve as a player. “I’ve spoken with the manager and he’s given me good motivation, and I trust him, he’s given me that trust, he’s told me how the system is and I feel the connection is really strong. “I’m dangerous in the box and hungry for goals. That’s what the manager sees in me and I want to show that on the pitch. “I can’t wait to be in the stadium. I’ve seen a lot of videos and it looks amazing and I can’t wait to get started.” Adamu is the second striker brought in on loan in January for Celtic after Tomas Cvancara signed from Borussia Monchengladbach last week. Both will be eyeing for a start on Wednesday night as the Hoops travel to face Aberdeen. Johnny Kenny has left on loan for Bolton Wanderers, meaning Martin O Neill’s two loan frontmen and Kelechi Iheanacho now make up Celtic’s attacking options.