Celtic have been earning widespread praise for their blistering start to the season, and they took their ruthlessness to new levels with a 6-0 demolition of St Johnstone on Saturday night.
It wasn’t just the scoreline that caught the eye but the sheer quality of their performance, with five different players getting on the scoresheet in what was a masterclass in cohesive, attacking football.
The goals were not only plentiful but beautifully executed, with slick in-play combinations that tore the St Johnstone defence apart at will throughout the match.
It was a performance that demonstrated the collective confidence and sharpness that manager Brendan Rodgers has instilled in his squad.
St Johnstone, admittedly, are a team in turmoil and did little to offer a genuine test. But the excitement surrounding Celtic right now isn’t so much about the level of their opposition, but the sheer manner in which they are playing.
The dominance, fluidity, and relentless attacking play are setting them apart as the team to beat in Scotland.
Celtic Draw Rave Reviews After St Johnstone Thrashing
Even among neutrals, Celtic’s performance has garnered admiration. The BBC Sportsound panel, which included pundits not traditionally aligned with Celtic, were full of praise for the Hoops. Hearts supporter Allan Preston, in particular, was effusive in his assessment.
Preston remarked: “This is as good a football team as I’ve seen in Scotland for years. Many, many years. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen one as fluent as that, as crisp as that.”
When asked if this current Celtic side is better than the one Ange Postecoglou built, Preston didn’t hesitate:
“Yeah, I honestly think so. I think when Brendan came in initially, it was a lot of Ange’s players, and they still wanted to play Ange’s way. That’s not Brendan’s way; they are two different styles.
“But having watched Celtic in the close season – I watched the games against Chelsea and Man City. Yes, they are friendlies, but the way they knocked the ball about, I thought ‘wow’ and wondered whether they could do it back in Scotland. They have, they’ve absolutely done it.”
Celtic’s Dominance Could Extend to Rangers
Preston was keen to stress that it wasn’t just St Johnstone’s current struggles that made Celtic’s performance so impressive. He believes that even Rangers could have suffered a similar fate had they been Celtic’s opponents on the night.
“St Johnstone, yeah, they’re on a downer, they aren’t playing well. They’re a club in crisis but Celtic have ripped them apart. It could have been ten. Celtic will do that to virtually every side,” he said.
“I include Rangers in that. If Celtic play like they have tonight, Rangers could get one healthy doing when they meet.”
It’s high praise, but hard to argue against. Celtic have already beaten Rangers 3-0 this season and seem to be improving with every game.
The real test, however, is just around the corner, with Rodgers’ side set to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. It will be a defining moment for this Celtic team to show where they stand on the European stage.