A former star has praised Paulo Bernardo for his tremendous improvement at Celtic in recent weeks.
Celtic midfielder Paulo Bernardo has won praise from both fans and experts, but Peter Grant feels that he should have been getting credit far sooner.
As a backup to the regular trio of Matt O’Riley, Callum McGregor, and Reo Hatate, the Portuguese midfielder moved to Celtic Park on loan from Benfica in the summer. Despite Celtic starting the season strong, the player initially struggled to establish himself in the starting lineup. However, Hatate’s injury gave Bernardo the opportunity to join the team, and he promptly made his mark in Hoops history by winning the season’s first game against the Rangers to ease the burden on Brendan Rodgers.
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After replacing fan favorite Hatate in the middle of the park, it seemed like a sliding doors moment for the on-loan talent; he’s been praised profusely ever since for his talents, but in recent months, he’s become a vital cog in the Hoops machine. Grant further asserts that it has always existed, with the midfielder’s tactical acumen virtually going unnoticed for a considerable amount of time.
“Bernardo was going about his business quite quietly, but because you are an ex-midfielder and looking at the game as a coach checking for strengths and weaknesses, I was really impressed when watching. You see a game differently when watching a player in a position you used to play yourself, so I’d be thinking: ‘How do Celtic want him to play? How’s he going to press? What are they looking at for that position on that day’?
“I thought he picked up really good areas on the pitch, he was intercepting things well and his use of the ball was good. He was one of these guys that when the opposition had the ball, people talk about pressing now, he knew the distances were right to go and put opponents under pressure. He was forcing people into making errors and that’s a skill a lot of people don’t rate or realise.
“Small things that don’t get noticed that are so important I rarely saw him give the ball away. The first time playing alongside Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley, they interchanged positions and he understood that. People think that is easy, but it’s not and there seemed a good balance and who would be where. For a young man, I saw a good understanding.
