Celtic made it by to the ultimate of the League Cup on Saturday after they produced a staggeringly spectacular efficiency in opposition to Aberdeen at Hampden Park.
The Dons had been unbeaten throughout all competitions within the 2024/25 marketing campaign previous to this cup conflict, with their misplaced aggressive loss coming in opposition to the Hoops on penalties within the semi-finals of the SFA Cup again in April.
These two sides, after all, additionally met within the Scottish Premiership earlier this season when Brendan Rodgers‘ aspect chucked away a 2-0 lead at half-time to attract the sport 2-2, with each groups stage on factors within the top-flight because it stands.
The semi-final conflict at Hampden Park on Saturday, nonetheless, regarded like a whole mismatch because the Dons collapsed and Celtic ran out comfy winners.
Cameron Carter-Vickers opened the scoring with a towering header from a nook, earlier than Daizen Maeda arrange Kyogo Furuhashi to attain in an almost-empty web simply three minutes later.
Daizen Maeda then scored a hat-trick of comparatively easy finishes and Nicolas Kuhn rattled in a incredible curling effort off the crossbar and in to finish the scoring.
One participant who will not be too happy with simply how simple the sport was with out him in from the beginning is left-back Greg Taylor, who could also be at risk of completely shedding his place.
Greg Taylor’s type this season
The Scotland worldwide was named on the bench from the beginning for the semi-final conflict and got here on for the final 27 minutes of the match, with Celtic scoring one in all their six objectives in that point.
Taylor missed 17 days with a hamstring harm in October and that supplied others with a chance to shine in his place, regardless of a stable begin to the season from the previous Kilmarnock man.
He has started seven matches within the Premiership this time period and contributed with 1.3 key passes per sport and three assists from an offensive perspective.
Defensively, the full-back has won 53% of his duels however misplaced 67% of his aerial battles within the division, while he has additionally been dribbled previous 0.7 instances per sport on common.
In the meantime, the defender has struggled badly in Europe for the Scottish giants, with less-than-convincing performances within the Champions League this time period.
|
24/25 Champions League |
Greg Taylor |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
2 |
|
Sofascore score |
6.35 |
|
Key passes per sport |
0.5 |
|
Duel success charge |
44% |
|
Floor duel success charge |
40% |
|
Tackles + interceptions per sport |
2.0 |
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, Taylor has been a light-weight in his duels in Europe in opposition to SK Slovan and Borussia Dortmund, while providing little in the best way of creativity.
Celtic conceded a whopping six objectives in his 135 minutes on the pitch throughout the 2 video games, which works out as a purpose conceded each 22 and a half minutes with him on the sector.
This exhibits that he’s removed from undroppable and that’s the reason he needs to be involved by the type of Alex Valle, his competitors at left-back, in latest weeks.
How a lot Celtic signed Alex Valle for
The Scottish giants swooped to signal the Spanish defender on a season-long mortgage from Barcelona through the summer time switch window and reportedly agreed to pay a £1.2m to cowl his wages.
Rodgers moved to herald the 20-year-old starlet after he had impressed on mortgage with Levante within the second division of Spanish soccer through the 2023/24 marketing campaign.
Valle played 29 times in LaLiga 2 final season and averaged 3.6 tackles and interceptions per sport, while profitable 56% of his duels, which spoke to his defensive qualities.
Nevertheless, he failed to register a single assist and solely averaged 0.6 key passes per sport, lower than one likelihood created per match on common, and there might have been a priority that he wouldn’t have the ability to supply as a lot offensively as Taylor does.
That has not turned out to be a problem, although, as Valle has hit the bottom working in Scotland and his performances have been robust sufficient to probably persuade Rodgers to completely ditch his favorite.
Why Alex Valle ought to substitute Greg Taylor
Taylor has been one of many Northern Irish supervisor’s favourites since he returned to Parkhead final 12 months, starting 42 of the club’s 48 Premiership video games for the reason that begin of final season.
The Scottish full-back, who as soon as claimed that he has improved “insane amounts” throughout his time in Glasgow, might lose that standing due to Valle’s spectacular shows.
In opposition to Aberdeen on Saturday, the Spaniard lined up at left-back from the beginning and was awarded a player rating of 8/10 by GlasgowWorld, a rating solely bettered by Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda – who each landed 10/10 scores.
His dynamic runs from left-back and his stable defensive work supplied stability alongside Maeda down the left flank, because the Japanese star scored a hat-trick and helped out defensively along with his urgent and monitoring again.
Valle has additionally made essentially the most of his alternatives within the Premiership for Celtic since his transfer on mortgage from Barcelona, which is another excuse why he ought to completely substitute Taylor because the first-choice left-back transferring ahead.
|
24/25 Premiership |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
7 |
4 |
|
Assists |
3 |
2 |
|
Key passes per sport |
1.3 |
1.8 |
|
Dribbled previous |
5x |
0x |
|
Floor duel success charge |
65% |
60% |
|
Aerial duel success charge |
33% |
47% |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
||
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, Valle has supplied extra creativity than the Scotsman, relative to what number of appearances they’ve made, and been extra dependable defensively.
The Barcelona loanee has not been dribbled previous a single time by an opposition winger within the Premiership this season, while the previous Kilmarnock man has been dribbled previous 5 instances, which means that forwards have had extra pleasure up in opposition to the Rodgers favorite.
Valle, while nonetheless not excellent on this space, has additionally received a a lot larger share of his aerial duels and, thus, can supply extra as a defensive presence from set-pieces and from crosses to the again submit.
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Celtic have been linked with an curiosity within the attacker, who has been in comparison with Angel Di Maria.
Due to this fact, the 20-year-old defender ought to completely substitute Taylor within the beginning XI as a result of his latest performances counsel that he may supply extra out and in of possession for the Hoops.
