Celtic's Haissem Hassan embodies the club's current predicament—capable of thrilling runs but defensively negligent—leaving manager Martin O'Neill with a selection conundrum after another European defeat.
Thursday night's match against Celta Vigo highlighted two contrasting moments involving Hassan. The Egyptian winger electrified Celtic Park with a 70-yard run from deep in his own half, beating a defender to win a corner. But in the first 20 minutes, Celta dominated possession, exploiting space down Celtic's right side where Hassan showed little interest in tracking back.
Defensive Frailties Exposed
Teenager Colby Donovan was seen urging Hassan to help defensively, but the support never came. While Hassan posed an attacking threat, his side's defensive lapses contributed to another disappointing European defeat.
Celtic's squad contains players who are dangerous going forward but vulnerable when defending. Hassan is not alone in this regard. Benjamin Nygren carries a significant goal threat but, like Tom Rogic, offers little when Celtic are without the ball. Mika Baur works hard to press and tackle but can become stranded in wide areas, leaving Callum McGregor exposed.
O'Neill's Dilemma
These luxuries may shine against weaker domestic opposition but leave Celtic open against higher-quality teams. O'Neill has struggled to resolve this issue, especially given the constraints of the transfer window.
A recent quote from Jurgen Klopp resonates: "As long as you are not Messi, you must defend for me." Hassan may occasionally think he is Messi, but his reluctance to defend leaves a teenage full-back exposed.
Pressure Mounting
Celtic's European failures stem from more than just the manager, but O'Neill faces scrutiny when his side concedes 20 shots a game. Five defeats in seven games have been somewhat mitigated by the fact that most have not come in the league, but domestic teams could soon punish Celtic's defensive vulnerabilities unless players like Hassan step up.
