Key Opta Stat Proves Just How Good Auston Trusty Was for Celtic Last Night

Celtic central defender Auston Trusty stood out in the Hoops’ hard-fought goalless draw with Atalanta last night.

The American was dominant aerially and adept with the ball at his feet.

Early on in his Celtic career, he has faced (at times undue) criticism, but the 26-year-old could have easily been Man of the Match yesterday evening.

Trusty admitted post-match that his side’s 2-2 draw with Aberdeen on Saturday gave the players a ‘wake-up call’ going into the Atalanta clash. They certainly heeded it, putting in one of the most defensively sound performances any Celtic team has over the past decade.

Indeed, the level of Trusty’s display is apparent in the fact that, according to leading Football data provider Opta, he recorded the most clearances (14) of any Celtic player in a UEFA Champions League match since Mikael Lustig (15) against Bayern Munich in October 2017.

Auston Trusty recorded 14 clearances tonight against Atalanta – the most by a Celtic player in a UEFA Champions League match since Mikael Lustig vs Bayern Munich in October 2017 (15).

Solid 🧱 #CelticFC #USMNT @OptaJoe pic.twitter.com/09mpfAw8zd

— Nathan (@nathanevans94) October 23, 2024

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Trusty’s performance last night should bring the Celtic fans who previously criticised him back onside.

The defender looked admittedly ‘shaky’ in previous matches, but he will only get better once he plays on his natural left-hand side, and it was harsh to judge him a few Games into his Hoops career.

Last night’s performance will fill him and his teaMMAtes with a wealth of confidence going into back-to-back Champions League home matches against RB Leipzig and Club Brugge.