Latest news with #AsianChampionsLeague
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rodgers sees 'lots of positives' despite Ajax thrashing
Celtic can still take "lots of positives" out of their friendly with Ajax despite losing 5-1, says Brendan Rodgers, although the manager stressed it is "also a reminder of the work we still have to do". The match in Italy was the semi-final of the Como Cup and Celtic will now face Asian Champions League winners Al-Ahli in a third-fourth play-off on Saturday. "I don't think it was a 5-1 game," Rodgers told Celtic TV. "For the first 60 minutes of the game, we were very good and the third goal we gave away. "But we had lots of really good moments - scored one but should have had more. "The goal we scored was very, very good - then, I felt, in the last 30 minutes of the game, we gave the ball away far too easily and we lost out in too many duels." Rodgers suggested that fatigue from pre-season training had played its part as the Dutch side rattled in three goals in the final 30 minutes. "So we can see the players are working very hard and they're getting leggy in some of the games because we are pushing them in training," he said. "Sometimes you get that and then the two goals right at the end are disappointing because they're shots from outside the box that we should do better with. "But, overall, lots of positives from it but also a reminder of the work we still have to do." Al-Ahli, instead of hosts Como, will now be Celtic's final pre-season opponents before they begin their defence of the Scottish title. "They have quality players - players who are individually very good," Rodgers said of the Saudi Arabian side. "They spent a lot of money on top players, so that will be a very good game. "That's why we came out. No matter how it turned out, we were going to get two really good games." Celtic fans, are you concerned by the result with the Scottish Premiership kick-off just over a week away? Tell us your views.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtic suffer heavy Ajax defeat in penultimate pre-season game
Celtic suffered a humbling 5-1 defeat by Ajax in their Como Cup semi-final in Italy. Brendan Rodgers' side were looking to build on wins over Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle United but now will face Asian Champions League winners Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia on Saturday in their final pre-season game rather than the tournament hosts. Netherlands winger Steven Berghuis' superb curled finish put the Dutch side ahead after 17 minutes at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Yang Hyun-Jun, who had hit the crossbar in the opening minutes, equalised four minutes later when the South Korean winger latched on to Reo Hatate's through ball after Kieran Tierney's long pass had opened up the Ajax defence. Adam Idah was also denied by the woodwork near the end of a first half in which Celtic dominated possession. However, the flow of the game changed after the break and Netherlands midfielder Davy Klaassen restored the lead just short of the hour mark, volleying home after goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel parried a shot off the line. Ajax pounced on a slack Benjamin Nygren pass inside Celtic's penalty box and Berghuis found the top corner for his second after 66 minutes. Aaron Bouwman increased the lead when the 17-year-old defender swept a stunning 25-yard drive into the top corner past Schmeichel with 20 minutes remaining before 19-year-old midfielder Rayane Bounida curled another beauty inside the far post. The defeat means there will be no swift reunion with winger Nicolas Kuhn, who watched from the stand following his recent move to Como, who now face Ajax in the final.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rodgers sees 'lots of positives' despite Ajax thrashing
Celtic can still take "lots of positives" out of their friendly with Ajax despite losing 5-1, says Brendan Rodgers, although the manager stressed it is "also a reminder of the work we still have to do".The match in Italy was the semi-final of the Como Cup and Celtic will now face Asian Champions League winners Al-Ahli in a third-fourth play-off on Saturday."I don't think it was a 5-1 game," Rodgers told Celtic TV. "For the first 60 minutes of the game, we were very good and the third goal we gave away."But we had lots of really good moments - scored one but should have had more."The goal we scored was very, very good - then, I felt, in the last 30 minutes of the game, we gave the ball away far too easily and we lost out in too many duels."Rodgers suggested that fatigue from pre-season training had played its part as the Dutch side rattled in three goals in the final 30 minutes."So we can see the players are working very hard and they're getting leggy in some of the games because we are pushing them in training," he said."Sometimes you get that and then the two goals right at the end are disappointing because they're shots from outside the box that we should do better with."But, overall, lots of positives from it but also a reminder of the work we still have to do."Al-Ahli, instead of hosts Como, will now be Celtic's final pre-season opponents before they begin their defence of the Scottish title."They have quality players - players who are individually very good," Rodgers said of the Saudi Arabian side. "They spent a lot of money on top players, so that will be a very good game."That's why we came out. No matter how it turned out, we were going to get two really good games."Celtic fans, are you concerned by the result with the Scottish Premiership kick-off just over a week away? Tell us your views.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Celtic suffer heavy Ajax defeat in penultimate pre-season game
Celtic suffered a humbling 5-1 defeat by Ajax in their Como Cup semi-final in Rodgers' side were looking to build on wins over Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle United but now will face Asian Champions League winners Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia on Saturday in their final pre-season game rather than the tournament winger Steven Berghuis' superb curled finish put the Dutch side ahead after 17 minutes at the Stadio Giuseppe Hyun-Jun, who had hit the crossbar in the opening minutes, equalised four minutes later when the South Korean winger latched on to Reo Hatate's through ball after Kieran Tierney's long pass had opened up the Ajax Idah was also denied by the woodwork near the end of a first half in which Celtic dominated the flow of the game changed after the break and Netherlands midfielder Davy Klaassen restored the lead just short of the hour mark, volleying home after goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel parried a shot off the pounced on a slack Benjamin Nygren pass inside Celtic's penalty box and Berghuis found the top corner for his second after 66 Bouwman increased the lead when the 17-year-old defender swept a stunning 25-yard drive into the top corner past Schmeichel with 20 minutes remaining before 19-year-old midfielder Rayane Bounida curled another beauty inside the far defeat means there will be no swift reunion with winger Nicolas Kuhn, who watched from the stand following his recent move to Como, who now face Ajax in the final.
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Ajax 5 Celtic 1: Heavy defeat for Rodgers' side in Como Cup
Celtic fell to a 5-1 defeat by Ajax in their penultimate pre-season friendly in Como. The Hoops were looking to build on impressive wins over Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle and were the better team in the first half. Yang Hyun-jun slotted home a quickfire equaliser for Celtic after Steven Berghuis had curled the opener. The South Korean winger latched on to Reo Hatate's through ball after Kieran Tierney's wonderful long pass had opened up the Ajax defence. The Dutch side took control immediately after the interval. Davy Klaassen scored on the rebound and Berghuis got his second after a misplaced pass from Benjamin Nygren deep in his own half. Spectacular long-range strikes from Aaron Bouwman and Rayane Bounida made it a difficult finale for the Scottish champions. The defeat means there will be no swift reunion with winger Nicolas Kuhn, who watched from the stand following his recent move to Como. Ajax will now take on the hosts in the final of the Como Cup while [[Celtic]] will face Asian Champions League winners Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
