Celtic – Highs and Lows of the 2024/2025 Season (Review)
Let me start this season summary with the tremendous fact that CELTIC ARE CHAMPIONS AGAIN!
Our Bhoys secured their fourth title in a row and the 55th league championship in the club’s history. That’s right – 55 league titles, 42 Scottish Cups, 22 League Cups, and of course, that glorious European Cup from 1967, a date that will live forever in the hearts of Celtic fans everywhere.
This remarkable winning history makes Celtic the most successful club in Scotland, with 120 major trophies to our name. It underscores, once again, our position as the dominant force in Scottish football. Congratulations to my Glasgow Lions!
Now, let me move on to summing up the 2024/25 season so far for our Bhoys in green.
Obviously, the season’s not over yet – there are still five matches to play and the Treble is still up for grabs – but here’s how things have gone up to this point.
The 2024/2025 campaign brought plenty of highs, a few lows, and some areas for future improvement. Domestically, Celtic maintained their dominance. In Europe, however, questions still linger – particularly around our Champions League performances. Injuries and squad depth also posed challenges, especially in certain key fixtures.
But make no mistake – this was a successful season.
Let’s start with what went right. Celtic were, once again, a domestic juggernaut. They won the vast majority of their home matches – losing just one and drawing just one at Celtic Park – and we marched to the title in dominant fashion.
We saw our club play football the Glasgow Celtic way.
In fact, we won 15 out of our 17 matches at Paradise, with only the last two home fixtures remaining. Our away form stumbled a little towards the end; the manager moved quickly to rally the team, and I’m confident our Bhoys will go into Ibrox and the remaining league games and take care of business in champions’ style.
Celtic has won 27 matches in the league so far, with just 3 draws and 4 losses. Beyond the results, the team showed brilliant mentality, physical strength, hunger, and attacking verve. The 5-0 demolition of Dundee United that sealed the title was just the cherry on top. Some of our football has been dazzling.
In the cups, it was more of the same. Four wins out of four in the League Cup, lifting the trophy again, and four wins in the Scottish Cup en route to a Hampden showdown with Aberdeen on 24th May. It’s all set up for a perfect ending.
Let’s not forget what captain Callum McGregor said after the win over Kilmarnock that sent us to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup:
“We could have had four or five easily. So credit to the players for the way they played. They created so many opportunities. But sometimes you have days when it just doesn’t quite fall for you or go in. And then you have to see the game out, which I thought we did really, really well, with a strong defensive mentality. They started chucking it in at the end and you’ve got to deal with it, so a really good performance and glad to be in the next round.”
Strong words from a strong leader. Let’s bring it home, Bhoys – a handful more wins and a dazzling Treble party awaits.
Now, onto what went wrong.
For one horrible night in Europe, the defence, plain and simple. Our defending, although generally good, has haunted us at times. We conceded far too many goals in away matches and against elite opposition. And that points to a need for fresh blood at the back. We all love Carter Vickers, but about who his central defensive partner should be we’re not quite so sure. Scales has his defenders … but his detractors too. So does Austin Trusty, who we have to forget is in his first campaign.
In the Champions League, Celtic played 8 group matches; we won 3, drew 3, and lost 2. There were great results against the likes of RB Leipzig, Atalanta, Slovan Bratislava, and Dinamo Zagreb – strong performances, no question.
But the 7-1 hammering by Borussia Dortmund was a humiliation – easily one of our worst European results ever. That match exposed our weaknesses at the back and in midfield. Even in tighter matches against Club Brugge and Young Boys, the defence showed its fragility. The 4-2 loss to Aston Villa was another example – we showed guts and attacking flair, but let in far too much at the other end.
So yes – defence, defence, and defence again. Sort it out, Celtic. It’s the one area of the team where fans are still not convinced. Bringing back Tierney for the next campaign will be a huge help and give us a huge lift … but another centre back in the summer seems crucial, especially as we wish to take further steps in the big competition.
Another issue was the departure of Kyogo, our main striker. It was a major blow for the fans and the manager to let him go, without securing an adequate replacement. Chris Sutton and others rightly warned against this.
We need to learn from it going forward. Business in the summer needs to be done in a much timelier fashion. We cannot make mistakes, especially with so much – including the manager’s future – on the line.
So what now?
The summer’s coming, and with it the chance to strengthen.
As we all know, Celtic need a few key additions – players with heart, fight, and hunger to match the standards we expect. We need to be tougher away from home, more disciplined in Europe, and tighter at the back.
But we’re on the right track. And now all eyes turn to 24th May. Bring that Treble home, Bhoys – you’ve earned it.
A very good assessment Paulina !
1st May now – Still another 24 good football days to savour (Hopefully anyway) !
Great wee article Paulinha, like ye say, onwards and upwards ,