Chris Sutton watched Celtic sweat their way through 49 dramatic minutes in Alkmaar then declared a place in the group stage draw of the Champions League was always in the bag.
The former hoops striker was on duty with John Hartson in the Premier Sports studio with their half time analysis fearing the worst.
After Kyogo Furuhashi had given them a dream start, and a three goal aggregate lead, with a third minute goal that should have gone a long way towards putting the tie to bed.
Not Celtic however, defensive howlers handed two goals to the home side who had barely put a shot on target.
Always in the bag??
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) August 26, 2021
No punches pulled in the studio on the two goals conceded by Celtic in the first half ?
“He’s killed the team there, Joe Hart has.” ?
“You’d see that in Sunday league football. Celtic have paid £4.5m for this player.” ? pic.twitter.com/yy12i9Z0Ve
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) August 26, 2021
Carl Starfelt’s wild swing at a cross ball made the aggregate score 3-2 with just 26 minutes played- somehow that was the last goal of the night.
For the first 10 minutes of the second half the Celtic goal lived a charmed life, gradually Celtic played their way back into the match but they always looked vulnerable to losing another.
Ange Postecoglou’s side survived but the spotlight is now on the Celtic hierarchy to beef up the side with the new manager demonstrating that he is a man with a plan.