Celtic player ratings vs Hearts as quartet of 4s sum up brutal day as Wilfried Nancy decision under microscope

Celtic lost 2-1 against Hearts in new head coach Wilfried Nancy’s first Premiership clash.

Daizen Maeda spurned a huge early chance from close range and Claudio Braga pounced to put the Jambos ahead at the break and sparks groans from home supporters as team headed down the tunnel. Oisin McEntee then headed a second home for Derek McInnes’ men and the eventual winner to leave them three points clear at the top of the league, Celtic sitting second. Kieran Tierney scored a consolation for the hosts but it mattered little.

A big talking point ahead of the former Columbus Crew head coach’s first game was whether or not Nancy would be brave enough to switch to his preferred 3-4-3 system, away from the 4-3-3 Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill have used this term. He might not have all the pieces needed for it but he went with what he had, wingers Yang and Sebastian Tounekti starting as wing-backs to make this XI heavily loaded on attacking talent.

It was a huge opener for Nancy, with Hearts top of the league on goal difference, but O’Neill’s interim reign had cut the gap from eight points to zero. The Jambos had triumphed 3-1 last time out and questions were being asked of them, on whether the current champions had a new contender to wrestle with. This new system started brightly, a few balls behind Hearts’ defence causing all sorts of bother, Tounekti playing in Maeda who couldn’t convert from a few yards out.

The start was fast and intense but little in the way of clear chances came for Celtic after Maeda’s miss, and that was punished. Arne Engels couldn’t get out of his defensive third in time, playing Braga onside, with Harry Milne’s slash at goal falling to the forward who slotted clinically. Celtic never really recovered as they did little to trouble their visitors despite having most of the possession and a corner was soon their undoing, McEntee heading home a brilliant Milne cross.

Arne Engels then missed from close range and Reo Hatate smashed the bar as nothing seemed to go right for Celtic, but Kieran Tierney did slam home a consolation. Nancy was brave to go with his preferred system but as Sky cameras continually panned to him and his tactics board, the sceptics will ask whether it was the correct call, as his opening outing proved calamitous. Here’s how we rated the Celtic players against Hearts.

Kasper Schmeichel - 6/10

Can’t do much with opener. A few questionable moments of distribution but otherwise fine.

Yang - 6/10

Into an unnatural right-wing-back role. Couldn’t impact the game going forward from his starting positions but looked more comfy when over the halfway line. A couple of bright moments and his desire to win the ball makes Tierney’s goal.

Auston Trusty - 4/10

Played on the right side of a back three. Hearts quite happy for him to have the ball and outjumped by Braga and not up quick enough to deny goal. Tasked with starting play and not suited to it.

Liam Scales - 5/10

Tasked as a defensive general in the heart of the backline. Doesn’t clear far enough in opener but not the worst offender in that scenario. Couple of good challenges elsewhere.

Kieran Tierney - 6/10

Playing in a role he’s been used to with Scotland. Poor pass kickstarts chain of events that leads to Braga’s goal but so much more happens after that. A couple of dangerous balls into the final third and showed his quality with late goal.

Sebastian Tounekti - 5/10

Another winger who was playing in a more defensive role and almost created the opener. Started bright but faded and then subbed.

Callum McGregor - 5/10

Sitting a bit deeper to provide defensive structure. Hearts looked to try and mark him out the game which worked in the first half, as he couldn’t play defence-splitting passes. Slips in build-up to Hearts opener.

Arne Engels - 4/10

Manning a midfield two with the captain, also sitting deeper. Some nice passes but too slow in getting out and allows Braga to score. Has to score from point blank range as two huge moments passed him by.

Reo Hatate - 4/10

In and around the striker with licence to drift wider. Didn’t seem to suit him as got lost in the game. No real moments of note then cracked the bar from close range when game was all but gone.

Benjamin Nygren - 4/10

A hybrid role between his preferred central midfield and winger positions. Again, seemed to be caught trying to do both roles and prevented Yang going beyond him at times. Nowhere for the second goal and McEntee well above him.

Daizen Maeda - 6/10

One of a few players who were playing a position they have been in recent weeks. Should have scored early and caused Hearts plenty of issues early on before fading.

Luke McCowan - 4/10

Winger role has been new to him in recent weeks and drifting further wide now a new challenge as he replaced Tounekti. Not a lot to write home about but cross causes Tierney’s goal.

Johnny Kenny - 3/10

Replaced Nygren in an attacking sub but impact minimal.