Ange Postecoglou to make late Jota call for RB Leipzig clash

The winger was taken off at half-time during Saturday's 2-1 win over St Johnstone

Published 10th Oct 2022

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou will make a late decision on the fitness of Jota for Tuesday's Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.

The Portuguese winger came off at half-time against St Johnstone on Saturday and sat out training on Monday because of a minor muscle issue.

Postecoglou said: "At the weekend (David) Turnbull and (Moritz) Jenz missed out through illness but they look like they will be OK.

"And Jota, we will just wait and see. He is still a bit sore from the weekend so we will make a decision (on Tuesday). He pulled up sore at the weekend and we just have to assess it. It's a quick turnaround in games, so second day usually we have a couple missing anyway."

Celtic will still be without Carl Starfelt and Callum McGregor, who have knee injuries.

McGregor began his lay-off from the starting line-up during Celtic's late 2-1 weekend win, with Matt O'Riley dropping back into a deep midfield role and Reo Hatate and Sead Haksabanovic ahead of him.

Postecoglou has several more defensive options such as Aaron Mooy, James McCarthy and Oliver Abildgaard, who all came off the bench in Perth, but O'Riley could maintain his new role.

"He is an option there for sure, I thought he did well at the weekend," Postecoglou said. "We have obviously got two or three options that can play there. It's more about just seeing how the guys pull up.

"I thought at the weekend Matt and Reo and Haksabanovic looked good as a threesome.

"I guess with Callum, he is one that has that experience at this level and he knows what's required to win a game even at Champions League level and international level.

"He is used to that environment, he thrives in it, and you can't replace that because that you can only learn by experiencing it.

"That's where we are going to have to get other guys to take a leg forward and show that experience that maybe doesn't exist right now in that kind of environment.

"In terms of our style of play, I still think we have players within the group that can compensate for missing Callum."

1880-1889

Celtic football club was founded in 1988 by Irish Marist, Brother Walfrid.

1890-1899

In the 1890s, Celtic won their first pieces of silverware, winning four league titles and two Scottish Cups.

1900-1909

Willie Maley was the first-ever Celtic manager. Under his tenure, the club won six league titles in a row.

1910-1919

Celtic once again won six league titles during this decade. The club missed out on the 1917/18 title by one point which stopped another six-in-a-row run of titles won.

1920-1929

The 1920s provided two titles and three Scottish Cups. This decade also had some of Celtics greatest ever players such as Jimmy Quinn (pictured above), their record all time goal scorer Jimmy McGrory and Patsy Gallacher.

1930-1939

In the 1930s Celtic won two championships and three Scottish Cups. The 1937 cup final (a 2-1 win over Aberdeen) was played in front of a record crowd at Hampden of 146,433

1940-1949

World War II meant that for the first half of the decade, there was no football being played professionally in any league.

1950-1959

During the 1950s, the club had one title win, which was part of the club's fourth double and two Scottish Cup wins. They also won the league cup for the first time and went on to win it again in this decade, beating Rangers 7-1 in the 1958 final

1960-1969

Jock Stein arrived as manager in 1965 and led the team to four championships, three Scottish Cups, five League Cups and the European Cup in half a decade in the 1960s. The European cup win in 1967 made them the first British and only Scottish side to win Europe's elite competition.

1970-1979

During the 1970s, the club carried on with the success winning 7 league titles, 5 Scottish cups, 2 league cups, 2 Glasgow cups and 1 Drybrough Cup. They also reached their second European cup final in 1970 but lost 2-1 in extra time against Feyenoord in Milan.

1980-1989

Ex-player, Davie Hay, replaces Billy McNeill as manager between 1983-1987. During this decade, Celtic win 4 league titles, 4 Scottish Cups, 1 league cup and 2 Glasgow Cups.

1990-1999

The 1990s was a decade with little glory with only three trophy successes – one league win, one Scottish Cup and one League Cup.

2000-2009

The Noughties was the clubs second most successful decade with 14 major trophies lifted. Martin O'Neill's side won Celtic's first treble since 1969. By the end of the decade Celtic had won six titles, four Scottish Cups and four League Cups.

2010-2019

This decade was the most successful in Celtic's history. The trophy haul included eight league titles, five Scottish Cup wins and five League Cup victories. They won a record 18 trophies in a single decade.