Benjamin Nygren green lights Celtic seismic switch directly linked to a bristling Brendan Rodgers grievance

Daily Record

5 hours ago

The Premiership champions have a way of working but changes could be afoot in Glasgow's east end
Managers often bristle at the notion over the simplicity surrounding formation switches when viewed in the old fashioned sense.
The days of a 4-4-2 and the 4-3-3 which lacks in flexibility appear to belong to a bygone era as modern managers live for the nuances which can give their side a tactical leg-up on Celtic.
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And you can bet Brendan Rodgers and his trusted lieutenants led by John Kennedy will be seeking ways to evolve his side as he begins the third season of his second trophy-laden spell in Glasgow.
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The champions have been active with Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan signed and Fulham standout Callum Osmand and Sweden international Benjamin Nygren soon to follow..
And it's the soon-to-be arrival of the Nordsjælland hot turn which offers a genuine shot to offer significant change to the way the champions play.
He plays on the right wing by trade, the position currently occupied by RB Leipzig target Nicolas Kuhn, however, Nygren's knack for moving inside the pitch happens at double the rate of the German. Record Sport checks out the changes which could be afoot.
3-4-3 or something fresh?
One of Celtic's calling cards under Rodgers 2.0 has been the over and underlapping of Alistair Johnston but the return of Tierney likely means only one full-back would bomb on at a time in a traditional 4-4-3 with Mikael Lustig famously shifting over to form a back three when the pair wreaked havoc under Rodgers during his first reign.
But, and this is a significant but, Rodgers appears to have the personnel to shift to a formation, one he previously called upon in 2015 when at Liverpool, and that is a 3-4-3, in all but name, at least.
In the revised line-up it allows two full-backs, Tierney and Johnston to bomb forward in tandem and offers Benjamin Nygren the chance to tap into his penchant for drifting into the role of a false nine rather than being marooned on the wing. A new way of thinking could also include Hayato Inamura - the J-League target who can play both in defence and at left-back.
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And this re-imagination of the Rodgers bluerprint comes attached with a significant caveat, of course, as the Premiership champions are actively seeking a marquee winger with Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Nilson Angulo and Sondre Orjasæter all admired by Parkhead decision makers.
However, with Jota out until the New Year, Kuhn being tracked by suitors across Europe and Maeda thriving as a central striker – there may never be a better time for transformation. It would also unlock Arne Engels further up the pitch.
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Rodgers – speaking after it was deployed in his Liverpool side during a League Cup win against Bournemouth in 2014 – made clear innovations, such as Raheem Sterling starring as a No.10, weren't solely the work of managers from abroad.
He said: "When you have got the players to play in the way we want to work you can see the issues and the problems we can cause opponents. We had that ability to break forward with speed and on the counterattack for probably the first time [this season]. That was clear. That tactical element is critical to how we work.
'The other night it was a British coach playing 3-4-3 so he has probably thrown the team together. 'He has played seven midfielders?' If it was a foreign coach it would probably have been seen as a wonderful tactical idea of playing the game. 'Sterling playing through the middle – what is he doing? [Lazar] Markovic out wide?' But that is the key for us – trying to get the players in position who can make us effective.'
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How a shifting Celtic could shape up
Back to Nygren, those who have worked with him reckon playing out wide limits what the Swede can bring to a team.
Ex-IFK Gothenburg sporting director Mats Gren sees Nygren evolving as his career develops. Speaking to the Scottish Sun, he said: "When Benjamin plays on the right wing or as a No9, he can be effective. However, he is best as a No 10. That is where all his qualities can be on show."
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