Motherwell boss dismisses ‘ridiculous’ talk Celtic are in crisis after poor run

Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson feels it is “ridiculous” to see Celtic come in for criticism following their slump in form ahead of the international break.

Martin O’Neill’s side – who claimed the Premiership title ahead of Hearts after a final-day decider last season as part of a domestic double – currently sit top of the table, two points clear of rivals Rangers.

Celtic, though, lost the last three games – including two defeats by Rangers, one in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup as well as in the league at Parkhead – and were also beaten 3-1 at home by Ferencvaros in their opening Europa League fixture.

Another at Fir Park on Sunday would equal the four-game losing run overseen by Wilfried Nancy last season, which was Celtic’s worst sequence since 1978.

Johansson, though, stressed any talk of Motherwell facing a team in crisis was wide of the mark.

“I don’t understand these things in football,” Johansson said at a press conference.

“If you check now the stats from the league, they are smashing almost all of them in the Premiership.

“The amount of quality they have in their squad, the amount of talent, they are a good team, so let’s just stop there and let’s not be ridiculous.”

Motherwell had by and large started the season brightly under new boss Johansson, who took over from Jens Berthel Askou in June.

However, the Steelmen also slipped to three successive defeats heading into the international break, having lost 1-0 at Rangers before being beaten 4-0 at home by Aberdeen and then edged out 2-1 at Dundee.

Johansson has no fresh injury concerns from the players who were away over the international break.

Defender Dylan Williams, though, is facing a spell out for “some weeks” after picking up a hamstring-related issue.

Forward Regan Charles-Cook is stepping up his recovery but will not be ready to face Celtic.

“He is still managed and on his way back,” Johansson said, quoted on the Motherwell club website.

“We had the chance to really put a foot on the ground with him and make a proper return-to-play programme for him. We will see him back very, very soon.”