Pump them easily- Chris Sutton’s reality reminder

Chris Sutton has a word of caution for Celtic fans shocked by the Europa Conference defeat from Bodo Glimt. 

Commanding domestic results can rarely be transferred into continental results with that lesson reinforced on Thursday night by the little known but street-wise and effective Norwegians. 

Possibly or even probably against Dundee tomorrow Celtic can expect to sweep their opponents aside but the philosophy is always liable to lead to bloodied noses on the continents. 

Comparing the contrast before and after the 3-1 defeat from Bodo, Chris Sutton explained the reality to Daily Record readers: 

I had Celtic-supporting pals saying beforehand the team was going to pump Bodo/Glimt easily but that, to borrow a word that Callum McGregor used in the aftermath of the defeat, was naive. 

On the flip side, since the game finished on Thursday, I have since heard others suggest the side was way too offensive and waiting to be picked off. 

That was a reference to the fact Postecoglou went positive. He went with all-guns blazing and naming both Tom Rogic and Matt O’Riley in the starting line-up was an aggressive move. It didn’t work out but quite why anyone would get uptight about that is beyond me. 

Postecoglou has been on the front foot since he took charge. That’s the way he is going to play. He is going to back his team to dictate and dominate and there’s no compromise.

If fans are going to celebrate that approach when they are taking Rangers to pieces, there has to be an acceptance it can backfire at times. 

None of the players that started against Bodo distinguished themselves but they will be critical to Postecoglou’s hopes of delivering success at the end of this season. 

Reo Hatate is the most likely change to Thursday’s side for the match against Dundee but the big lift that fans are looking out for is the return of Kyogo Furuhashi. 

Seven weeks after his last appearance his rehab seems to be a closely guarded secret but as he demonstrated at the League Cup Final his presence brings a fresh dimension to Celtic’s play.