Celtic Struggle Against Ajax in Heated Como Cup Encounter
Celtic's pre-season preparations took a dramatic turn as they fell to a heavy 5-1 defeat against Ajax in the semi-final of the Como Cup, a match marked by both on-field disappointment and off-field tension. Held in Italy at the Stadio Comunale Giuseppe Sinigaglia, what started as a promising display quickly unraveled into a sobering reminder of the work still ahead for Brendan Rodgers and his squad.
Speaking after the match, Rodgers emphasized that despite the lopsided scoreline, there were encouraging moments to build on. “I don’t think it was a 5-1 game,” he stated. “For the first 60 minutes, we played some very good football. The goal we scored was of real quality, and we had other chances that we didn’t take.” However, he acknowledged that fatigue—inevitable at this stage of pre-season—crept in, and Celtic surrendered three goals in the final half-hour. “We were pushing hard in training, and the lads were leggy. But that’s expected. There are positives, but also clear areas we must improve.”
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Off the pitch, the game wasn’t without its controversies. Tensions flared in the stands between Celtic and Ajax supporters, triggered by Celtic fans displaying Palestinian flags. The situation escalated as cups of alcohol were thrown, and fans rushed toward the barriers, trading insults. Stewards intervened quickly to restore order, but the moment served as a stark reminder of how politics can infiltrate even friendly matches.
Celtic now shift focus to their next test: a third-place playoff against Al-Ahli, champions of the Asian Champions League. Rodgers believes it will be another high-quality challenge. “They’re a team with technically excellent players and big investments behind them,” he noted. “These are exactly the types of matches we wanted coming into this tournament.”
Despite the result, the takeaway message from Rodgers was clear: this isn’t about winning pre-season silverware, but about sharpening the squad for the intense campaign ahead. With the Scottish Premiership just over a week away, fans will be hoping the lessons from Como are taken on board quickly.
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