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‘Square pegs and round holes’ Michael Stewart nails the Celtic mystery

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Michael Stewart is convinced that Neil Lennon will go forward with a four man defence.

After toiling through the Glasgow derby with a malfunctioning 3-5-2 system that invited penetration behind the wing-backs and crosses deep into the penalty box that system was ditched at half-time against AC Milan.

The Italian’s were already leading by two goals at that time but suddenly some shape returned to the Celtic side, helped by the introduction of Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie.

Lennon’s options are reduced by the absence of three central defenders with Stewart convinced that the Celtic boss has discovered the formation to suit the players available.

He told the BBC Sportsound podcast:

There are less square pegs in round holes when they’re playing that shape and that formation. The best way for Celtic to play is quite clearly how they set up in that second-half. From the second-half there, it gives Celtic a platform to start to build from. The crazy thing for me is I don’t know how that wasn’t recognised long ago.

In January Celtic switched to a 3-5-2 formation but that was mainly build around the return of Leigh Griffiths to join Odsonne Edouard in attack.

With a lack of wide options, a 4-4-2 formation would appear much more natural with Albian Ajeti, Leigh Griffiths, Patryk Klimala and Moi Elyounoussi competing for the forward places.

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