Martin O’Neill has outlined why he opted to leave Reo Hatate on the bench ahead of Celtic’s Europa League meeting with Stuttgart.
The Celtic manager handed Paulo Bernardo a start in central midfield, with Hatate dropping out after a run of underwhelming performances. Speaking to TNT Sports before kick-off, O’Neill stressed that the occasion represented a significant opportunity for Bernardo, while also acknowledging the midfielder’s lack of recent starts.
O’Neill explained that Bernardo is a talented player who hasn’t featured regularly of late, and this was a chance to impress alongside captain Callum McGregor and teammate Nygren. He admitted Bernardo might not see out the full match due to limited minutes in recent weeks, but emphasised that it was an important platform for him to make an impact.
Paulo Bernardo’s display against Stuttgart
Making his first start since the win over Auchinleck Talbot, Bernardo was given the nod in what was billed as Celtic’s biggest fixture of the campaign so far. However, as the Hoops slumped to a heavy defeat, the Portuguese midfielder struggled to stamp his authority on proceedings.
He was substituted after 62 minutes and received a modest 6.5 rating from statistical outlet FotMob. Bernardo found it difficult to influence the tempo or assert control in midfield, adding to questions about his ability to secure a consistent starting role.
The 24-year-old has yet to replicate the form he showed during his loan spell, when he played a part in delivering both the league title and Scottish Cup.
With limited game time this season, Bernardo has previously hinted that he could consider his future if opportunities remain scarce.
On the evidence of this latest outing, though, he may need stronger performances to attract serious interest should he decide to move on.
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