Several key figures past and present with Barcelona have accused Celtic of playing “anti-football,” a description that didn’t sit too well with manager Neil Lennon ahead of today’s Champions League match between the two sides.
Xavi and former Barca player Bernd Schuster both made the comments, with the latter believing Celtic doesn’t even deserve to be in the competition.
It’s easy for a superb squad like Barcelona to pass judgement. But given Celtic’s financial and talent restrictions, the remarks appear harsh and undeserved. Celtic after all is not blessed with the same financial muscle as their opponents.
The average Barcelona player makes roughly $7.9 million a year, while the average Celtic player makes only $1.6 million, nearly seven times less.
Celtic also doesn’t have the type of options at their disposal when it comes to toying with their players and formations. Not every team has a Xavi and Iniesta that can dictate the midfield regardless of the opposition. Or the highest scoring European footballer and arguably the world’s best player at the moment, Lionel Messi. Or one of the best youth academies in the world that is renowned for giving birth to a slew of talented players, including the the trio mentioned above as well as Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas (until his late teens at least), Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Carles Puyol. Not to mention, that some of these players are also reigning World Cup and European Champions.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but given the tools available to the Scottish side, their resilience in defense is something to be admired. Celtic employ this system out of necessity; it’s how a club with limited resources was able to earn a 3-2 victory over Spartak Moscow last month.
Despite the label, Lennon says his formation is a reflection of his team’s abilities and his opponents strengths and skills.
“We never set out to be defensive, we try to have a realistic game plan.”
“Barcelona force you to play that way, you don’t go out and play that way. They’ve put better teams with better plays on the back foot on a regular basis.”
Lennon raises an important point. What choice does a team like Celtic have against a talented squad like Barcelona?
7.9 divided by 1.6 = approx 4.94……
….but the point is still valid. The financial divide (thus the ability to have world class players sitting on the bench) between them and most other clubs in the UCL is massive.
As I type this, anti-football just beat Barcelona 2-1.
Heh. Looks like Barca just got ran over by a hooped bus. Great stuff.
Watt a debut for the youngster…
It is a bullshit excuse doled out by teams that think they somehow morally deserve a win. Arsenal vs. Stoke. Liverpool vs. Everton. Etc. It is just whining, and it is silly to pay any attention to it. Figure out how to beat them or shut the fuck up.
I agree, the “anti football” comments are a crock of shit.
Barca should have finished a few of their chances and quit complaining about the doings of the other team. What else can be expected when there is such a talent gap?
Celtic could say that the way Barcelona is unable to defend crosses (or attempt a cross off a corner kick) shows that THEY don’t belong in the competition. It’s ridiculous to try to force tactics on other teams. You’ve got to play the team across from you the way that makes the most sense for you.
Every time Barcelona lose a game they cry of “anti-football”
Barca are a great football team. They’re the best team I’ve ever seen. That being said, they also happen to be a bunch of arrogant crybabies. Nothing exemplifies this more than this “anti-football” crap they bring up everytime a team beats them. Xavi accused Madrid of not trying to play football in one of the el classico’s because they played two holding midfielders and were physical in the midfield. Celtic are just another team who got a result against them, therefore an excuse needs to be made. Anti-foorball is their favourite.
WTF is anti-football? The point of the game is to win. Sometimes that is done by overpowering your opponents with superior skill and sometimes that is done by tactically changing your approach to weather your opponents onslaught and exposing their weaknesses on the counterattack. Then there are times when a draw will do and you just defend. All these approaches have their use based on the team and the circumstance. In this case, it is Barca’s responsibility to respond and alter their play to overcome the playing style of their opponents. Poor on Barca to criticize. They come off looking like babies. I like a lot of their players for what they’ve accomplished, but this isn’t the type of thing a classy organization says after a loss. Take the loss and figure out how to win your next game. Period.
The mighty celts won at the best home for European football and they can’t handle it!!!!!!! Mon the hoops!!!
Where did Xavi make these “anti-football” comments? It wasn’t in the press conference or in any other pre-match interview. Both before and after the game, Barcelona players and coaches spoke respectfully of Celtic and highlighted the dangers they posed.
As for Schuster, his opinion is hardly representative of Barcelona. He’s also a former Real Madrid coach and manager.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/soccer-celtics-lennon-disappointed-anti-football-label-162152527–sow.html
You know these “anti-football” comments were made back in 2007 after facing Rangers away.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/sns-rt-uk-soccer-champions-celticbre8a50zt-20121106,0,2916878.story
look celtic played well & won fair … no anti futbol there ….. anti-futbol is when all the players start playing defensive & dont attack (ex. chelsea, real madrid) + when they only play dirty by taking out the greatest player ever in leo messi … remember its just 1 loss, so dont get 2 excited …. barcelona will win the champions league & la liga this year … VISCA BARCA Y VISCA CATALUNA
The only choice available….FIX the match.
The Green Brigade or their backers have been taking care of business behind the scenes.
Lets not kid ourselves. You can be lucky once but not every CL match you play. LOL.