Edouard Adored
Celtic have one foot in the Europa League Group Stage following a 2-0 home win over AIK Stockholm. After the Transylvanian terrors of Cluj, this was a case of Move On with no SOS against the Swedes (sorry!).
Team Tactics
Like Cluj, AIK have a distinctive style they commit to wholeheartedly and, seemingly, unbendingly.
A 3-5-2 became five at the back on many occasions as Celtic, sensibly, tried to create overloads in wide areas. Unlike Cluj, the Swedes were not trying to press full court. Instead they retreated to half way then pressed in their own half.
In possession, they would try and hit the front men early with long balls. The 29-year-old Sigthorsson, formerly of Ajax Amsterdam and veteran of European Championship and World Cup with Iceland, was the main danger, supported by 34-year-old captain, Goitom.
Celtic showed admirable patience. 18 minutes had passed before Johnston provided the first shot. This was after their best moment of the match. A long ball forward was dealt with by Simunovic but his pass back stretched Gordon. From the clearance, AIK launched another long ball back into the box and Sigthorsson headed wide.
The big Icelander had a couple of “moments” including a shot well blocked by Ajer for a corner. But it was slim pickin’s for the visitors.
Once Celtic had gone ahead in the game, AIK started to push further forward. Celtic were then able to break at speed against a slow back line. The last 7 efforts of the match were from Celtic as AIK tried to get an important away goal.
It remains to be seen whether AIK have another gear or way of playing. What I have read suggests their default is a defensive and medium block alignment. They should be able to contain Celtic at home, but that will not be enough. The evidence here was if they open up, Celtic have the pace on the break to punish them.
None of their substitutions changed the intrinsic shape.
Like Cluj, Celtic need to be watchful of the second ball after an aerial challenge or long pass. One goal changes the mood.
The Aerially Dominant Eagle
AIK’s long ball game allowed Jullien to showcase his strengths. He couldn’t have hand picked an opposition to allow him to bed into Celtic.
Over the match Jullien won 15 aerial challenges, losing none. Overall this contributed to 18 successful challenges and interceptions, 9 more than any other Celt. He won back possession from defensive actions 10 times, 4 more than any other Hoop. He even had time for two efforts at goal, one on target.
Any team ramming long balls on top of Celtic, even with two wily international forwards, will be lapped up by this lad.
Game Management
This section will become a regular feature throughout the season I feel.
Last week against Cluj, Lennon made the error of not closing the game out at 3-2 and 10 minutes remaining.
This week, against limited opposition, the needs were perhaps more subtle. But again, whereas his predecessor had a finely tuned instinct for shifts in impetus and momentum, Lennon seems not so acutely attuned.
The momentum shift here was around 55 minutes. Celtic had scored and then Christie had gone on an amazing sprint to nearly score a second.
After that AIK started to push forward and Celtic became ragged at the back, and the momentum collapsed. Celtic did not have another shot until Edouard’s second goal – 22 minutes (or half a half) without an effort.
This was the time to freshen things up and remove the small bit of forward momentum the Swedes achieved. They had their sole shot on target in this period from a header in the box.
Johnston did not complete a single pass in the second half, indicating again that he has some way to go to be conditioned to play a full 90 minutes. This would have been the opportunity to make a change and freshen the team, refocussing the champions.
Lennon can rightly point to the fact Johnston came up with 3 strong carries in the second half, one of which resulted in the Edouard free kick goal.
But against better opposition, I feel he needs to be more sensitive to the swings of a match and more proactively use the bench.
Game Summary
A look at the headlines shows that Celtic were by and large dominant in the match,
There wasn’t a whole lot of jeopardy in the game for Celtic. The AIK single game xG is the lowest bar Nomme Kalju and St Johnstone.
Celtic had possession in their box 32 times to 2.
Lessons have been learned from the Cluj game in that when facing a long ball side, be alert to the second ball. Celtic recovered 113 times here, a season high. Brown led the way with 19.
Gordon had one save to make from a long-range header whilst Linner had 8 to make, 3 in row from Ntcham Edouard and Morgan on 83 minutes.
Bhoy of the Match
Ajer
Ajer was the stadium choice, and he showed what a talented and versatile player his is with a right back stint. He achieved 100% in Defensive Action Success Rate (DASR). He effected 9 recoveries and won back possession 5 times losing it once. In attack he created one chance, 2 secondary assists and had one shot.
It was a good all-round effort from the Norwegian, but he didn’t make my top 3!
3rd - Brown
In third place I have Brown. Last week he struggled as the ball flew diagonally over his head and his midfield mate McGregor was missing.
Here he didn’t have a lot of defending to do but had one of those games where he was always in the right place. He led the team with 19 recoveries. He won 7 challenges / intercepts losing 2. Brown won the ball back 3 times in his own defensive third. Overall, from defensive plays, he won back possession 5 times, losing it once.
He also created 3 chances including a full team Pack Pass that took out the whole Swedish side for Bayo to have a late chance.
Add in 3 progressive runs and it was a balanced midfield performance.
2nd - Jullien
The AIK style was made for Jullien to shine as mentioned. I have covered his numbers above.
The Even Better If - I hope we see more of his passing range.
Bhoy of the Match - Edouard
The young French striker seems to be getting better and better.
The free kick goal was delivered with such pace and technique, neither the wall nor ‘keeper had much chance.
He led the side with xSC (Expected Scoring Contribution) of 0.874. This came from 4 shots, 3 on target and team-leading 5 chances created.
His overall Attacking Threat score (CAT) was 18, 9 higher than second placed McGregor.
Against defensive opposition, Celtic needed someone to make the difference in the final third and Edouard delivered again.
Summary
A two-goal lead is always precarious. One goal gives them huge hope.
The main threat will be aerial balls, and not recovering the second ball. Ajer and Jullien would be the optimal partnership in that situation.
AIK will have to balance their default defensive setting versus the need to get some goals. As shown late on here, if they push forward, Celtic have the pace and middle to front quality to break on them effectively.
Celtic seemed content at 2-0 to see out the game and AIK seemed content to still be in it. That tells me the Celtic players know their superiority as the numbers clearly show.
Disciplined and professional should see the job done.