Celtic failed to secure Champions League football this season, and at the rate they are going, that won’t change for the next campaign.
What’s even more incredible is that former Celtic star Ryan Christie could be playing in Europe’s elite competition before the champions of Scotland go down that road again.
Christie spent six trophy-laden years in the colours of Celtic before leaving in 2021 and joining Bournemouth, who at the time were in England’s second tier.
Yes, the 30-year-old won’t represent a club bigger than Celtic, but that call is now proving to be a masterstroke.
Ryan Christie and Andoni Iraola applaud the Bournemouth fans against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Ryan Christie and Bournemouth sitting second in the Premier League table
Whilst it’s all chaos at Celtic following Brendan Rodgers’ abrupt exit, the sun is out on the south coast for Bournemouth and Christie.
Over the weekend, the Cherries beat Nottingham Forest, who sacked Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou last week, 2-0 to go second in the Premier League table.
Yes, it’s still early days and nine games have been played, but after missing out on European football by the skin of their teeth, can Bournemouth reach Europe for the first time in their history this season?
And with England likely to be handed five Champions League spots, there is no reason why Christie isn’t playing on such a stage next term.
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Christie’s stats since leaving Celtic
Whilst Christie played more of an attacking role during his days at Celtic, he is being deployed as a deep-lying playmaker under Andoni Iraola.
Added with the versatile star’s 67 Scotland caps, he is at the peak of his powers and has made serious progress since leaving Glasgow.
Club Games Goals Assists
Bournemouth 158 9 17
Celtic 151 42 44
Christie’s numbers don’t do him justice, and whilst he has mainly come off the bench this season, he played 29 Premier League matches last term, before injury cut short his campaign.
Bournemouth are one of the fairytale stories in the money-crazy English Premier League, and a Celtic hero is playing a huge part in it.