Celtic winger Luis Palma was questioned by the Honduran press upon flying home from international duty. In recent weeks, he has taken his game to a new level at Parkhead and certainly seems to be the club’s signing of the summer window. Let’s see how things develop from here on forward.
Palma recently started in both of Honduras’ CONCACAF Nations League fixtures against Cuba. He even picked up an assist in the second game between the two sides at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles in a 4-0 win.
Palma has certainly found his feet at Celtic Park in recent weeks and continued this form on international duty in what can only be seen as a positive for Brendan Rodgers’ side. With a tough test against Hearts this weekend, the Hoops will need the Honduran winger to be at the very top of his game if they are to take all three points from Tynecastle Park.
Then there is the Champions League group stage fixture against Atletico Madrid. And Palma has admitted his admiration for the opponents.
Celtic winger makes honest Atletico Madrid admission
Palma was full of admiration for Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone. As reported by the Daily Record, the Celtic winger said:
"“It’s a team I admire, the football they play with Cholo (Diego Simeone). It will be a difficult game but we all intend as a club to do the best we can to bring a trophy home.”"
Palma also spoke of his disappointment over his disallowed goal against Lazio in the Champions League that was ruled out for offside. He said:
"“It was a marvellous moment, it was nice and to say I had scored in the Champions League in that moment before it wasn’t to be. I’m going to keep working, it will make me stronger this game…it’s football. I can tell you it was difficult in the final moment not to score because I had a great game.”"
Palma has shown great character at Celtic thus far, with two incredible goals from outside the box against Motherwell and Kilmarnock respectively. It hasn’t been plain sailing for the Honduran and he has had to play his way into the Celtic starting XI.
Palma’s second-half performance off the bench against Lazio looked to be the moment he showed the Hoops faithful that he was up to the level of Champions League football. It may have looked like a harsh decision by Rodgers not to start him against the Italian side despite netting against Motherwell days prior, but it seems to have only helped improve his game further.
One notable tactical tweak in Rodgers’ second spell is shifting Japanese international Daizen Maeda out to the right flank from the left, where he played the majority of his football under the management of Ange Postecoglou. This means that there is a starting spot up for grabs, and Palma has certainly put himself in a prime position to become Celtic’s first-choice.