Celtic Fan View: Stubborn defence has given Celtic the perfect platform to dominate SPFL

If you were to ask Hoops fans walking along ‘The Celtic Way’ on a match day what the main difference is between this season and last, most would likely point to a far more entertaining style of football. And they wouldn’t be wrong; there’s a great contrast in speed, ball movement, fluency and overall superiority that favours the side of 2016/17.

Ultimately, Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy as a manager is grounded in attacking principles which made him the perfect fit for Celtic. After all, his team have scored 67 goals in the league and 103 across four competitions- one of which they have already won. What he’s further imposed on the team since arriving last summer is a relentless mentality that requires constant improvement- individually and collectively- despite being so far ahead on the domestic front.

That has certainly rubbed off on his players in an offensive sense. The threat Celtic possess isn’t restricted to the forwards, rather it is spread across the pitch which is what makes them so hard to cope with. Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair grab most of the headlines but they have been effectively backed up by the likes of Tom Rogic, James Forrest, Stuart Armstrong and Kieran Tierney who have contributed a number of goals and assists.

An argument could also be made, however, that the defence is reaping the rewards of Rodgers’ desire for domination. It might have gone under the radar but the defence has been just as stubborn as the attack has been dangerous giving the side the platform to display their attacking prowess at the top end of the pitch. That combination has made the champions a much more balanced outfit compared to last season and it’s no wonder that they’re on such a fine domestic run of 31 games unbeaten.

Just 16 league goals have been shipped this term which puts the team well on course to better last year’s total of 31 conceded. Of those 16 just two have led to opponents taking points from the Bhoys while nobody was able to score past them on the run to the League Cup triumph and they have yet to lose a goal in the Scottish Cup. Even though it’s highly unlikely, it’s still possible that this side could boast the club’s best league defensive record this century. In order to do that they would have to keep a clean sheet in every game between now and the end of the campaign to beat the efforts of Ronny Deila’s team of 2014/15 who conceded just 17 over 38 matches. It’s hard to envisage that but it’s more likely they will enter the top five for fewest league goals lost in a season in the 21st century.

What makes this a tremendous achievement, though, is that Rodgers has constantly changed personnel whether it be through injury or rotation. Christian and Gamboa and Mikael Lustig have shared the right-back berth while Emilio Izaguirre spent two months deputising for the injured Tierney.

In between them no less than nine centre-backs have been used by Rodgers and even more partnerships. With that many changes it’s a tough ask for players build consistency and understandings which is somewhat reflected by the fact Celtic didn’t keep a clean sheet in their first six league matches. The former Liverpool manager’s indecisiveness between Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries didn’t do much to ease the nervousness that was lingering around Parkhead in the early months of the campaign either.

But the Northern Irishman has flushed out those who either needed more game time elsewhere or are simply not in his plans and has rightly backed Gordon as his number one goalie. His meticulous coaching criteria for certain individuals has also worked wonders; some players have been frozen out for a while but they’ve responded and come back stronger, fitter and significantly better. Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata are clear examples of that; both appeared to be heading for the exit but Rodgers has given them a chance and they’ve taken it, now finding themselves ahead of the vastly experienced Kolo Toure in the pecking order. Boyata, who had only played once before January, has started the last seven games and was even given special praise by the manager.

Over the last few years the backline has been the weakest area of Celtic’s team but Rodgers has toughened up his troops and they now seem impenetrable regardless of who plays. Whereas in previous years the defence might have collapsed, the Hoops can now withstand pressure but perhaps more importantly their mean record sets up things nicely for the attackers to flex their muscles.

Their 15 clean sheets in the SPFL- eight of which have come in the last 10 games- and 21 in all domestic competitions is a testament to their work on the training field. The end-of-season statistics may not put them in the history books but it’s still a mighty contribution to a team that almost certainly will.