CELTIC SARACCHI CONUNDRUM: HOW DO WE FIT HIM INTO THE TEAM?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
In a season accented by a series of stumbles, one of the prevailing bright sparks has been the impact, when permitted, of Uruguayan full-back Marcelo Saracchi.
The defender hasn’t been a regular starter in recent months, instead functioning primarily as an impact sub. However, that impact has been undeniable. At times, he has, to use an old cliché, been an absolute game-changer.
There’s just one problem: he’s a left back. We already have perhaps one of the best left backs of his generation in Kieran Tierney. So, we now face a similar problem to that often navigated in recent years by Scotland manager Steve Clarke.
Just what do you do when two of your best players are both playing in the same position? He has tried numerous ways to fit Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson into the Scotland line-up together, to varying degrees of success.
Now at Celtic, Saracchi and Tierney present Martin O’Neill with a similar quandary as we enter the final 6 games of the season.
To Get the Best for Celtic, Saracchi and Tierney Both Must Play
We’ve had a few different back and forth discussions about this issue on ACSOM over the past few weeks. Each contributor has their own slightly different take on the issue.
On one hand, there is the argument that ongoing questions around Kieran Tierney’s fitness and injury record necessitate having a quality left-back on the bench who can step in as and when required. Saracchi certainly fits the bill there, but I doubt the player himself will be happy to remain an indefinite understudy.
So, while this may well be the way Martin O’Neill runs with things over the next month or so, ultimately, if Marcelo Saracchi is to stay at Celtic beyond the summer, and indications are the player wants to do so, then we need to rethink this approach.
One option that I personally quite fancy is the idea of switching to a 3-5-2 formation.
Lack of goals may well be the thing that proves decisive if Celtic fail to retain the league this year. All of our currently misfiring strikers: Daizen Maeda, Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu showed at their previous clubs that they produced the best goal returns when partnered with another striker in attack.
I’m more concerned with the back line though. And moving Kieran Tierney to the left side of a back three would allow Marcelo Saracchi to assume a left wing back role that would perhaps better suit his attacking attributes.
If, by some miracle, Celtic could also retain the services of both Alistair Johnston and Julian Araujo next season, then there’s scope for a similar partnership on the right side of defense too.
This would unfortunately see one of our most improved players of this season, Yang Hyun-Jun reduced to a place on the bench. His success at right wing back, best punctuated by his incredible solo goal in January’s ill-fated Glasgow derby remains perhaps the only positive we can take from Wilfried Nancy’s short reign as Celtic manager.
If he and either Johnstone or Araujo (because I really don’t see Celtic keeping both after the World Cup) could form some kind of partnership on the right flank then there may be a place for the young Korean at Celtic Park next season after all.
So 3-5-2 is my personal preference, but we seem stuck with 4-3-3 at least until the end of the season at this point.
But there is another option. Could Saracchi be moved up into midfield?
Callum McGregor would probably admit himself that he hasn’t been at his usual high standard of play for large parts of this season. Were he not the captain, and such an inspirational leader, both on and off the park, dare I say he well have been benched already.
It would be a bold move to bench the captain, and one of our most decorated players of all time, especially at such a crucial point in the season. However, if it were to happen, then who better to step into that defensive midfield role than Marcelo Saracchi?
His tough tackling, eye for a penetrating pass, and that little sprinkling of South American temperament may be very jolt this Celtic midfield needs to get it over the line this season.
Come what may, at the end of May, I really hope that Celtic go all out to retain Saracchi’s services this summer. Through good times and bad this season, we look like a better team when he’s in it.
