Celta Vigo manager Claudio Giráldez has blasted his own players despite a 2-1 win over Alaves in La Liga, branding their performance “absurd” just days before the Spanish side travel to Celtic Park for a Europa League tie.
The victory should have been cause for celebration, but Giráldez was in no mood to hand out praise after watching his team struggle through what he clearly felt was a sloppy and unconvincing display. For a manager trying to build momentum heading into a high-profile European fixture, the performance was far from what he was looking for.
Giráldez made his feelings crystal clear after the final whistle, refusing to dress up the result as anything more than two points dropped in terms of the quality on show. The word “absurd” was thrown out there to describe certain aspects of how his side played, which is a pretty brutal assessment when your team has just come away with a win.
Celta Vigo are set to face Celtic at Celtic Park in the Europa League, and the Glasgow club will no doubt be paying close attention to the cracks appearing in the Spanish camp. Celtic fans will be well aware that a rattled squad heading into an away European fixture is exactly the kind of situation their side can take full advantage of.
Celtic Park has long been one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football, and Celta Vigo will need to be significantly sharper than they were against Alaves if they want to come away from Glasgow with anything. The noise, the pressure, and the relentless energy that comes with a full Celtic Park on a European night has undone plenty of well-organised sides over the years, never mind one that their own manager thinks is playing “absurd” football.
For Celtic, the Europa League campaign represents a real chance to make a mark on the continental stage this season. Brendan Rodgers has been building his squad with European ambitions in mind, and home ties like this one are seen as genuine opportunities to rack up points and push for progression in the competition.
The timing of Giráldez’s public criticism of his players is a curious one. Some managers use that kind of sharp public rebuke as a motivational tool, hoping the embarrassment of being called out will sharpen focus ahead of a big game. Others simply cannot hide their frustration. Either way, it sets up an interesting dynamic heading into the Celtic Park fixture.
Celta Vigo are not without quality. They have shown in La Liga that they can compete and pick up results, but consistency has been an issue. That inconsistency is exactly what Celtic will be hoping to exploit when the two sides meet.
All eyes will be on how Celta Vigo respond. Will the manager’s harsh words galvanise the squad, or will the uncertainty and criticism linger into one of the biggest games of their European season? Celtic supporters will be hoping it is very much the latter.