{"id":81890,"date":"2025-05-07T12:57:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T12:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/81890\/"},"modified":"2025-05-07T12:57:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T12:57:13","slug":"celtic-told-one-key-position-hasnt-been-strengthened-for-the-last-couple-of-summers-in-light-of-error-vs-rangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/81890\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtic told one key position hasn’t been strengthened ‘for the last couple of summers’ in light of error vs Rangers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Celtic spent around \u00a331m last summer, a huge outlay even for a club the size of the Hoops.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They broke their transfer record twice<\/a> across the window, spending an initial \u00a38.5m on Adam Idah and then \u00a311m to recruit midfielder Arne Engels.<\/p>\n

The third-most expensive signing was \u00a36m man Auston Trusty from Sheffield United<\/a>, as Brendan Rodgers sought to strengthen the left side of Celtic\u2019s<\/a> central defence. <\/p>\n

However, bar a few games, Trusty<\/a> hasn\u2019t really lived up to that price tag yet. Liam Scales<\/a> is Celtic\u2019s other left-footed centre-back and while he has impressed at times, he isn\u2019t consistent enough.<\/p>\n

Both are nowhere near the consistency or quality of Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Stephen McGinn<\/a> thinks as a result, Celtic keep on failing to find a long-term partner for the American.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by Emmanuele Ciancaglini\/Ciancaphoto Studio\/Getty ImagesStephen McGinn on Liam Scales and Auston Trusty<\/p>\n

McGinn was speaking on The Go Radio Football Show and was initially asked by host Rob MacLean if Scales could have done better to stop Cyriel Dessers from scoring in the Glasgow derby on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Rangers striker outmuscled and outmanoeuvred Scales before firing a shot into the net past Viljami Sinisalo to put the Ibrox side in front.<\/p>\n

McGinn thought Scales should have prevented Dessers, as well as highlighting Celtic\u2019s need to sign a better quality left-footed centre-back. <\/p>\n

The pundit said: \u201cI thought just off the back of the Bayern game, how good Carter-Vickers and Trusty were as a partnership and obviously spending a lot of money on Auston Trusty, I just assumed that would be the partnership.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrendan Rodgers has brought Liam Scales back into the team and I think he\u2019s been good in the games, but he has struggled in those types of fixtures.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s got to do better, I think he\u2019s got to do more to stop the shot getting away. I think with Dessers, he could easily shuffle him wide but he\u2019s ended up on the ground.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udd35 \u201cThey hit the heights on derby day again!\u201d <\/p>\n

Cyriel Dessers gives Rangers the lead just before half time! \u2b07\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/8NKhMuMdfG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019ve probably said it for the last couple of summers, it\u2019s an area of the park (left centre-back) Celtic have to get right.<\/p>\n

\u201cCameron Carter-Vickers is a top level centre-half, but it\u2019s that one position that they still go into every summer thinking \u2018we need to get that one right\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Trusty vs Scales at Celtic this season<\/p>\n

Trusty and Scales have interchanged this season for several different reasons, but neither have managed to solidify that left centre-back slot.<\/p>\n

Hugh Keevins recently branded Trusty \u201ca waste of money\u201d<\/a> alongside Adam Idah, while Scales is now being criticised for his defending against Rangers.<\/p>\nCategory<\/strong>Auston Trusty<\/strong>Liam Scales<\/strong><\/tr>\n\nPosition<\/strong><\/td>\nCentre-Back<\/td>\nCentre-Back<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nTotal Appearances<\/strong><\/td>\n35<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nGoals<\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAssists<\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nYellow Cards<\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRed Cards<\/strong><\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMinutes Played<\/strong><\/td>\n2,958<\/td>\n2,555<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Both Trusty and Scales actually rank highly on Sofascore\u2019s average ratings<\/a> for the season so far, but Celtic fans won\u2019t be in the same school of thought.<\/p>\n

Rodgers has confessed \u2018change is needed\u2019 in his first-team squad<\/a> for next season, so will he once again shell out to sign a left centre-back, or stick with what he has?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n