Paulo Bernardo’s best ever Celtic performance

The Celtic Star

·29 September 2024

Paulo Bernardo’s best ever Celtic performance

Paul Bernardo has given Brendan a major team selection dilemma for Tuesday night and might just have earned himself a place in the Celtic starting XI against Dortmund…

St Johnstone v Celtic – Callum McGregor celebrates after scoring our fourth goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match at McDiarmid Park, Perth on Saturday September 28, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

Paulo Bernardo had a terrific game yesterday evening in the 6-0 thumping of St Johnstone. The Portuguese under 21 skipper fired in a great second goal while providing an assist for Daizen Maeda for the fifth, to cap a splendid all round performance.

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Reo Hatate was the man who made way for Paulo, and I’m sure it was because Brendan had him in mind for a starting role on Tuesday night, but after Paulo’s starring role in Perth it will have given the Irishman some much needed food for thought.

Reo is an incredibly talented player, and has the ability to open up the best defences, but Paulo also brings an added dimension to our midfield with his constant energy and drive, and his eye for goal. Notably Sandman gave Paulo his coveted Man of the Match award in his Definitive Rating after yesterday’s splendid all round performance.

Paulo Bernardo celebrates scoring to give Celtic a 0-2 lead. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, McDiarmid Park, Perth, 28 September 2024 Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Arne Engels and Callum McGregor are one hundred percent nailed on starters, so it’s between Paulo and Reo for that other midfield spot.

It’s certainly a tough one to call, one that I’m sure Brendan had nailed down before yesterday’s game, but perhaps Paulo has thrown a spanner in the works if the manager’s plan was to start Reo. Or was yesterday’s starting XI the same team that will kick-off against Dortmund? If Cameron Carter-Vickers isn’t fit then that is likely to be the way things work out.

Brendan is the boss and it’s his decision at the end of the day. That’s why he gets paid the big bucks after all, money incidentally that’s well spent. It might be a dilemma, but a good one to have as it further proves the strength of our current squad.

Paulo Bernardo’s performance yesterday against St Johnstone might have made Brendan’s mind up for him. We shall see.