In just seven days, Celtic’s pre-season campaign begins with a trip to Dublin to face Shelbourne. It’s the first step towards another season packed with expectation, followed by a training camp in Portugal, a friendly against Sporting Lisbon, and the glamour fixture against AC Milan at Celtic Park.
Yet instead of excitement, many supporters are feeling concern.
How can a club with reported cash reserves of around £80 million look so underprepared?
The transfer window is open, but there have been no major additions to strengthen the squad. At the same time, speculation continues over key players leaving, raising the possibility that the team could become weaker before it gets stronger.
The coaching staff has finally been completed, but even that felt like a drawn-out process. For a club that knew months ago where it wanted to be this summer, why did it take so long to put the backroom team in place?
Preparation is everything in modern football, especially with Champions League football on the horizon. Successful clubs don’t wait until the final weeks of the transfer window before acting. They arrive at pre-season with a clear plan, new signings integrated and a settled squad ready to build momentum.
Celtic don’t appear to be in that position.
Supporters aren’t asking for panic buying. They’re asking for foresight. They’re asking for ambition. Most of all, they’re asking the club to learn from the mistakes that have been repeated far too often over the years.
The countdown has begun.
In seven days, the players will take to the pitch against Shelbourne.
The question is, will Celtic be ready, or are we about to watch another season begin with the same old problems?
