Cup final loss was tell stale sign of what was to come for Celtic

Allan says Hoops need freshen up

- BY GORDON PARKS

SCOTT ALLAN believes the seeds were sown for Celtic's Champions League failure in the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen.

The ex-Hoops midfielder watched his old side hit a brick wall over 210 minutes against Kairat Almaty before exiting European football's top competition in a penalty shootout.

And he insists it was a rerun of the creativity bypass suffered back in May against the Dons at Hampden.

Allan is convinced the inability to find a way through packed defences came home to roost due to the lack of game-changing new recruits as well as a host of first-choice picks resting on their success-laden laurels.

He said: “There's a bottom line to why Celtic couldn't get past Kairat and it's down to a few factors.

“It has been clear since Celtic lost the Cup Final to Aberdeen that the squad needed upgraded.

“Dons sat deep with five at the back and frustrated Celtic who were one-dimensional with little inspiration.

“And that’s where the defeat to Kairat stems from.

“After losing that final there was a belief things would be fine as the team would be strengthened in the summer - but it hasn't happened.

“During their Champions League run last season I felt Celtic had the strongest bench in a long time in terms of guys being able to come in and bring something to the side.