Scott Allan fears Celtic's physical vulnerability has become a worrying shortfall as they look to revive their season. The former Parkhead midfielder believes they were found wanting in that department on the biggest days this season — the Champions League second leg defeat in Austria and back-to-back Old Firm losses in the league and cup.
Rangers and LASK exposed Celtic's physical limits
Allan said: "The first win was a real statement from Rangers and gave them belief that, physically, they have got Celtic's number. LASK did as well. I think Celtic are really struggling in the middle of the park. Ultimately, you can't make yourself bigger or stronger."
"So when you know that somebody is physically better than you, then what you do on the ball has to be so much better. You have to have a way of playing through that aggression and that pressure."
He added: "To turn up in the second game and go away from everything you identify with Celtic - 4-3-3, ball to the wingers and looking to go and create - and look to go more direct against a Rangers 3-5-2, was telling. And yet to no avail... no performance and no result."
Rangers' comfortable wins raise questions
Celtic face a demanding October with away tests at Motherwell, Benfica and Hibs plus visits from Hearts and Celta Vigo. Allan said Rangers' cruise control at Celtic Park eight days ago could be an ominous sign.
"Looking at the second half of the league game there, Rangers looked as if they were sitting in second gear," he said. "They were that comfortable - Celtic just could not lay a glove on them. That reflects in the shots on target that they had and Rangers were unfortunate not to be two or three goals better off than they were. Overall, I felt it was really comfortable for Rangers throughout the two games."
"Rangers look as if they are going in the right direction. Now, all of a sudden, everything is being questioned about how Celtic play, their tactics. And, first and foremost, are they showing enough desire when these sort of games have come?"
Allan noted the shift in momentum: "This has certainly been different this season, hasn't it? If you had asked people three weeks ago about the two Old Firm games, everybody was thinking it could be the end for Derek."
"Ultimately he put a run of games together. It hasn't always been brilliant by Rangers in those games. But once you can start winning them, it just puts you in the right direction."
Martin O'Neill's future and a lack of belief
Martin O'Neill raised doubts about his future after a trio of defeats in eight days before receiving backing from the board. Allan said he was not surprised by the emotional response.
"I wasn't surprised to hear that from Martin. When you're a guy who has the standing he has at that club, then he has every right to have those feelings after a game. But he is manager of Celtic Football Club and fans want better performance," he said.
"A lot of people who were at the game in the second half could feel there was a real lack of belief. That's a lack of belief throughout the players - and in the stadium - that Celtic were going to get themselves back into the game."
"That is not something you would associate with Celtic. But it's interesting. This international break has come at a good time for clubs looking to see where they're going to go from here."
