Celtic’s ‘Grit’ and ‘Fight’ vs Atalanta Earns Gabby Agbonlahor’s talkSport Praise

talkSport pundit Gabby Agbonlahor was full of praise for Celtic this morning following their gutsy 0-0 draw with Atalanta last night.

The Hoops put in a disciplined defensive performance in Italy, earning a valuable point in their Champions League campaign.

Boss Brendan Rodgers ripped up the rule book and spearheaded a disciplined defensive display, which helped the Hoops to their first clean sheet away from home in Europe’s premier club comPetition for seven years.

Agbonlahor, taken aback by Celtic’s resilience, highlighted three key factors behind the positive result: defensive compactness, commitment to blocking shots, and Kasper Schmeichel’s heroic goalkeeping display.

“You’ve got to give a shout out to Celtic last night,” Agbonlahor said live on talkSport this morning (via RecordSport), reflecting on the match. “I watched the Celtic Game at 5.45pm and they done the opposite of Dortmund when they got absolutely battered. They were more compact and throwing bodies in front of the ball.”

The former Aston Villa striker was especially impressed with how Celtic handled Atalanta’s relentless attacking pressure.

Unlike previous matches where they might have been overrun, Celtic displayed a clear commitment to defensive responsibilities, a hallmark of Brendan Rodgers’ recent adjustments.

Agbonlahor noted how they put everything on the line, particularly in their defensive third.

He was quick to single out goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who made a series of crucial saves to keep the Hoops in the Game. “Schmeichel in goals was outstanding with some amazing saves. They showed grit, fight and defensive responsibilities. I am sure Brendan [Rodgers] will be so proud of them.”

Agbonlahor also pointed out that Atalanta’s home ground is notoriously tough for any team, with Arsenal managing only a draw there earlier this season. “Tough place to go, we know that. So I think Celtic deserve a shout out.”

Celtic’s defensive strategy may have limited their chances going forward, but Agbonlahor acknowledged their willingness to sacrifice in order to grind out a result. “They were just at it Celtic in the defensive part… Yes, they found it hard to get forward, but they were throwing their bodies in front of the ball.”

With four points from three Games in the league phase so far, Celtic still have a fighting chance to progress.

Agbonlahor was quick to emphasise the importance of their upcoming fixtures, particularly at Celtic Park: “It’s not a bad start for Celtic, four points after three Games. They’ve got a chance. Got to win their home Games.”