Rodgers may have secured a bigger bargain than Schmeichel with “tenacious” Celtic star

The Champions League format has altered, and it’s possible that Celtic is now playing in a different league in Europe.

Although the trip to Dortmund may indicate otherwise, the Old Firm team has already picked up four points from just three league games, making for a fairly strong start to this year’s tournament.

That is the total number of points the Hoops earned from their six 2023–24 group matches, and Brendan Rodgers’ team is undoubtedly starting to hope of qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time since the 2012–13 season.

Although the Premiership team’s most recent away trip to Atalanta wasn’t particularly visually appealing, the Glasgow giants, who had previously rolled over on the road, held their ground and repelled wave after wave of onslaught from their rampaging hosts.

Summer addition Kasper Schmeichel was in the middle of the action for the visitors that evening, and the seasoned Dane once again demonstrated what a wise choice he has been for the Scottish champions.

The beginning of Kasper Schmeichel at Celtic

Schmeichel, who had previously worked under Rodgers at Leicester City, seemed to be the clear choice to succeed the Englishman after former Manchester City teammate Joe Hart announced the end of his long career at the end of the previous campaign.

It must be argued that the transaction was obvious because the Premier League winner, who was available on a free transfer at the time of his departure from Belgian team Anderlecht, was giving a young Celtic team a wealth of experience.

The 37-year-old has so far been outstanding in goal, keeping seven clean sheets across all competitions and giving up only three goals in eight Premiership games, though it is obviously still early.

In Bergamo, the new player was very excellent as he repeatedly stopped the Europa League winners. He blocked a bullet header from Mateo Retegui and, most significantly, stopped Mario Pasalic’s driven effort with his feet.

Hart said that his team’s “outstanding” performance was crucial to their first Champions League clean sheet in seven years, and the choice to buy Schmeichel for nothing paid off handsomely.

Even though he might still have a few years left at the highest level, the 37-year-old 109-cap Denmark international, who just signed a one-year contract, is hardly a long-term answer.

Because of this, the club may have found its best deal of the summer elsewhere.

Celtic’s summertime bargain

Even though his influence has only been temporary thus far, the pittance of £1 million spent on Dundee captain Luke McCowan already appears to have been a wise investment.

The young Celtics supporter has adapted to his new environment quickly. In September, he scored his first goal for the team in a 2-0 victory over Hearts.

Following the permanent acquisitions of Paulo Bernardo and club-record signing Arne Engels, there is intense competition in the midfield ranks; however, based on available data, McCowan may be pushing his way into Rodgers’ starting eleven.

In last week’s 2-2 draw with unexpected championship contenders Aberdeen, the 26-year-old was especially outstanding coming off the bench. He attempted to get through the visitors defence with one crucial ball from just 14 touches and had a 90% pass accuracy rate in that late cameo.

After contributing 15 goals and assists in the top level for his previous employers last season, the “tenacious” talent—as writer Kai Watson has praised him—seems to deserve an opportunity to make an impression right away in games.

Before moving to Parkhead, analyst Andy Walker compared the playmaker to Ryan Christie, raising hopes that he would eclipse that £1 million worth.

“He reminds me a lot of Ryan Christie and the kind of potential he displayed at Inverness, you know.”

You recall that he was loaned to Aberdeen before Celtic acquired him. He became a very good player and finally moved to Scotland, where he achieved great success with Celtic before moving south. I believe Luke McCowan has a similar temperament.

“I enjoy his style of play. He is an attacking, forward-thinking midfielder. He’s clearly done a great job with Dundee, and I believe he has some imagination.”

Christie, who rose to prominence at Bournemouth and is currently valued at about £15 million, is an example of the kind of trajectory McCowan may pursue, albeit ideally at Celtic Park rather than south of the border.

Therefore, even though the Hoops spent more than £20 million in the most recent transfer window on players like Adam Idah and Engels, Schmeichel and McCowan’s deals might end up being the best deals.

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