Celta Vigo manager Claudio Giráldez will seek a key tactical edge for Thursday's Europa League clash at Celtic by tapping into the experience of Carl Starfelt. The Swedish defender, who spent two seasons at Celtic Park, will travel with the squad to Glasgow to provide insider knowledge despite being injured.
The Spanish side face their third group game without a point after losses to Omonia Nicosia and Juventus, making the need for a result in Scotland urgent. Giráldez, 38, believes the details Starfelt can offer about the environment, stadium, and opponent's style will be a valuable asset. The club expects around 3,000 travelling supporters.
Starfelt guides from the sidelines
Carl Starfelt had this date circled on his calendar, but a muscle injury sustained weeks ago will keep him from playing. Nevertheless, the club has included him in the travelling party and the 31-year-old will be available to the coaching staff. His role will be that of a tactical advisor from the touchline, sharing his experiences under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic, where he won a domestic treble.
Starfelt thus becomes the third player in history to wear the shirts of both Celta and Celtic, following forwards Jorge Cadete and John Guidetti. His impact, however, is expected to be greater on the strategic front than for playing precedent.
League context and European urgency
Giráldez's team arrives at the match with mixed form this season. In La Liga, Celta sit eighth with 11 points from two wins, five draws, and two defeats in nine games. Their last match was a 2-1 win over Alavés last weekend, with goals from Ferran Jutglà and Javier Rodríguez Galiano.
That result ended a two-game winless run, which included the 1-2 defeat to Juventus in Europe and a goalless draw at Elche. The squad is thin and injuries limit the manager's options, who called for calm and a complete performance to try and spring a surprise at one of the world's most iconic stadiums.
The next fixture on Celta's calendar is the visit of fourth-placed Real Betis to Balaídos on Sunday, October 25th. First, the focus is on Glasgow, where Celtic face the match amid a boycott from their Green Brigade ultras. Starfelt's insight on how to handle that atmosphere will be another factor Giráldez considers in his planning. The team needs points immediately in a competition with only eight games, and every detail could prove decisive.
The report in full is at Daily Record Football
