James McFadden reckons Brendan Rodgers will discuss Celtic’s approach with captain Callum McGregor for their next Champions League encounter against Atalanta.
The Scottish Premiership champions were thrashed 7-1 against last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund in their second league phase fixture. And it doesn’t get much easier for the Hoops with Europe League holders Atalanta next up later this month.
Rodgers has been criticised by some for his tactics with calls for the Irishman to be more pragmatic against the big guns in Europe having been on the end of drubbings against Barcelona, PSG and Atletico Madrid during two spells in charge of Celtic.
And former Scotland star McFadden is convinced McGregor will be asked for the dressing room view. He told BBC Sportsound: “I think they have that type of relationship where Brendan Rodgers will ask McGregor what he thinks.
“It looks like that they have that relationship. I think he’ll initiate that conversation and say ‘How did you feel in the game’. It will be a conversation to say ‘How did you feel out there? ‘What caused us the problems?’
“There has to be a different approach against Atalanta. You can say Dortmund were helped along in terms of their goals but they looked a threat and controlled the game and were able to get influential players on the ball. I’m not saying abandon what your team does but I expect a tweak to how they approach the game because the game was gone after 20 minutes and you can’t have that. You nave to stay in the game longer. And if that means at times you take a backward step then it has to happen.
“This was one you say it’s a test. I don’t like free hit because that means 7-1 doesn’t matter and it does matter. Celtic failed the test so there has to be a change. You can’t put it down to a bad night at the office and next time everything will be fine because Atalanta are a very good side. I think there will be a tweak to how they manage the press so they operate better as a team because they were too open. I can understand why Celtic went into the game the way they did but they have to be more solid, more compact and allow the ball to go into areas you feel you can deal with it better.”
Ex Celtic keeper Pat Bonner added: “This is when Brendan Rodgers has to really manage. I hope he puts the pressure onto himself because the players confidence has taken a massive hit. That’s the manager’s role now. He will analyse and talk to the players and hopefully come up with a plan for a competitive performance against Atalanta. That’s his role now and why he’s paid the big money. If you’re going to compete against the big boys you have to find a way to do it and that’s the.”