Celtic's heavy 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park exposed a gap not yet bridged between the Scottish champions and Europe's elite, raising questions about both the team’s tactics and their manager’s track record on the biggest stage. Despite a strong start to the season, where Celtic had racked up nine straight victories, including a 5-1 victory in their opening European game, their high-pressing, attack-minded approach was picked apart by the Bundesliga runners-up.
The defeat reignited frustration among some Celtic supporters, many of whom pointed to Brendan Rodgers’ involvement in several of the club’s heaviest European losses. During his first spell at Celtic, Rodgers was in charge for a 7-0 defeat to Barcelona and a 7-1 drubbing by Paris Saint-Germain. The crushing loss in Dortmund has now added to that list, drawing frustration from fans who feel the same tactical vulnerabilities have been exposed repeatedly.
Celtic started brightly, with Daizen Maeda equalizing in the ninth minute after Emre Can’s early penalty had given the hosts the lead. It looked like a goal-fest in both directions could be on the cards. Yet the brief moment of hope was quickly snuffed out as Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy dismantled the Celtic defense with clinical finishing. Adeyemi completed a hat-trick before half-time, and Guirassy added a brace, while Felix Nmecha sealed Celtic’s heaviest defeat of the Rodgers era in the Champions League.
Much of the post-match criticism focused on Celtic’s decision to try and match Dortmund’s aggressive, fast-paced style. The idea of going toe-to-toe with one of Europe’s top sides may have been brave, but some felt it was also naïve, especially given Dortmund’s speed on the counter-attack and the quality of their finishing. With a more cautious approach, sitting deeper and relying on the counter, Celtic may have improved their chances of securing a more respectable result.
However, it’s understandable why Rodgers and his team took the more ambitious route. With their unbeaten run across all competitions, there was a sense of momentum, and the belief that they could impose their game, even against top-tier opposition. And it has to be said, fans weren't concerned with the tactical approach beforehand, but it may have been the lack of an adjustment when it wasn't working out that hurt the most. As Rodgers admitted after the match, "At this level, especially away from home against a top team, you need to be at your highest level. We weren't, and they were."
The numbers behind the defeat painted a slightly more encouraging picture. Celtic’s expected goals (xG) of 2.20 wasn’t far behind Dortmund’s 2.64, suggesting they created meaningful chances but lacked the clinical edge. Their open-play xG of 2.16 in comparison to Dortmund's much lower 1.02 highlighted the opportunities they generated, but defensive lapses—combined with Dortmund’s ruthless finishing—turned a potentially competitive match into a rout.
Rodgers now faces the challenge of lifting his squad ahead of a crucial trip to Italy to face Atalanta in their next Champions League outing. If Celtic are to have any hope of progressing from the group, tactical adjustments and defensive discipline will be crucial, even if just for the team's confidence. For now, though, questions will linger among supporters over whether Rodgers can steer the club through these brutal European encounters without repeating past mistakes.
