‘Definitely’… BBC journalist shares what the Italian media really think about Celtic after Lazio match

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Celtic’s defeat to Lazio in the Champions League on Tuesday night further compounded a miserable group-stage campaign for Brendan Rodgers.

Finishing bottom of Group E with nothing to play for but pride against Feyenoord, Celtic will look back at this campaign with a series of what-ifs, especially in the two games against Lazio.

The Italians were on the ropes at Celtic Park until a late slip by Cameron Carter-Vickers allowed Maurizio Sarri’s men to steal a late winner.

They were also on top in Rome on Tuesday until Ciro Immobile hammered home why you just can’t write the Serie A side off.

The Italian media ‘respect’ Celtic

And it was those two performances by Celtic, and the fact they beat them twice in the Europa League five years ago, that prompted Italy-based BBC journalist, Alasdair Mackenzie, to share exactly what the Italian media think of Celtic.

MacKenzie said [BBC Sportsound], “Celtic are respected, definitely, in Italy. And there’s not a sense that that was going to be an easy game or that was going to be an easy win.

“Everyone still remembers the Europa League matches from four years ago. Everyone is aware of the fact that Lazio got a bit lucky to get the win they had in Glasgow earlier in this campaign.

“So they weren’t being underestimated. And I think that people were generally expecting Lazio to struggle to get a result, which ultimately they did until that final ten minutes.”

Celtic will now need to lick their wounds and take their medicine after a five-game run that has seen them win just one point, score three goals and concede 14 so far.

Feyenoord beckon at Celtic Park in December and nothing but a convincing win will help eradicate the memory of another poor season in Europe’s top competition.

In other news, 24-year-old’s Celtic career looks to be over after what happened in the Champions League last night