Kasper Schmeichel might have been on the receiving end of heavy criticism for SC Braga's opening goal against Celtic, but he was not the only player at fault for that sequence of play. The finger has been pointed towards another one as well, who did not show enough effort leading up to the strike from Ricardo Horta.
Celtic's midfield has been a topic of discussion in recent times. It has felt like the combination of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren has not really worked, especially in big games, as they have struggled to establish control in the middle of the park.
With Hatate struggling with a knock, it was a chance for somebody else to impress and show that they are good enough to be considered for a starting spot. Many fans had called for Paulo Bernardo to be given a chance and Brendan Rodgers did just that, giving him a rare start.
Unfortunately, Bernardo did not manage to impress. In fact, his lack of effort in the lead up to the Braga opener has been called out as well. As reported by 67 Hail Hail, Stan Petrov said:
"As a midfielder, you should be aware of what’s happening around you. But this is what I don’t understand about Bernardo.
“Look at at the pace that he’s trying to close down at. You’ve been given the opportunity to start the game. To have the opportunity to show what you can do. And he’s just jogging."
Celtic player slammed for lack of effort that led to Braga goal
Well, it is pretty clear that Petrov was not impressed with the effort that Bernardo showcased against Braga. And one would imainge that chances are going to be hard to come by for him moving forward.
At the same time, one cannot overlook the fact that plenty of Celtic players struggled on the night and did not look up for it. This is becoming a problem for the Hoops, as it has been a while since they had a decent showing in a big game.
The last occasion was probably that draw away at the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich last season. Since then, the downfall in quality has been staggering to say the least.