Celtic FC Women 0-1 theRangers – Time up for Elena Sadiku | OneFootball

Yesterday morning Jo Potter, the manager of theRangers knew that her side needed to win the three remaining SWPL1 matches and hope for a favour elsewhere if they were going to keep their treble chances alive…

Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Their remaining games were against Celtic, Hearts and then against current leaders Hibs, who were playing Glasgow City – the Scottish Cup Finalist opponents of Potter’s side. Last season Fran Alonso’s Celtic side in the first half of the season – when amassed a huge goal difference advantage which ultimately delivered a first ever SWPL title for Celtic. Alonso left to the a job in the States and is now back coaching in his native Spain and Elena Sadiku came in as his replacement.

Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Celtic got lucky with Alonso and hopes were high that the Celtic Board had struck it lucky with his replacement, Elena Sadiku who was a youth team coach at Everton.

Despite a dismal record in all domestic cup competitions in her time at Celtic, Sadiku finished the campaign as a title winner, which was won on goal difference. At the time The Celtic Star asked her to acknowledge the contribution made by Fran Alonso – but she post blank refused to do so. It was a telling moment but if it meant her focus and determination to be a winner was going to drive Celtic FC forward then so be it.

Celtic FC Manager Elena Sadiku. Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Her first full season in charge started well with decent success in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers, making the 16 team group stages and while losing all six games her team wasn’t embarrassed at any stage against the likes of English Champions Chelsea, Real Madrid and Dutch side FC Twente.

On St Patrick’s Day 2024 Sadiku’s Celtic side beat theRangers. That would remain her one and only victory over Potter’s side, who this season didn’t ignore Alonso’s strategy of banging in as many goals as possible against the weaker sides in the SWPL before the split.

Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

That could be important come the end of the season would have been Potter’s message to her players having lost the title on goal difference last season.

Hibs and Glasgow City yesterday shared the points in a 2-2 draw, which meant that theRangers had the title destination back in their own hands. With the remaining three games and they’d be Champions, the huge goal difference lead was as good as an extra point.

Elena Sadiku. Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Elena Sadiku’s Celtic side could do something about that, or so we hoped. A long ball through the middle was badly misjudged by the Celtic FC Women skipper Kelly Clark and despite Emma Lawton’ best efforts theRangers were in front after 13 minutes.

The rest of the first half passed by with zero threat to theRangers goal in an unacceptably bad performance by a Celtic side – sadly it’s become the norm. There were at least a few efforts on goal after the break but theRangers didn’t have to get out of second gear to protect their lead and Potter had a huge smile on her face at the final whistle.

Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Elena Sadiku’s post-match interview with Celtic TV was the usual detached from reality stuff she’s been spouting week after week. Have a listen:

Celtic’s season is done and dusted and so too is Sadiku’s time as Celtic head coach. There are two games to play, against leaders Hibs at Meadowbank stadium on Wednesday night – and for the first time in my life I certainly do not want Celtic to win that match, not that it’s likely.

Then it’s Motherwell at Celtic Park – of all places – next Sunday 18 May. Has Celtic even been promoting this game? Judging by the tiny turn-out from Celtic supporters at Hamilton yesterday for the Glasgow Derby against theRangers, Paradise will be empty for that game against Motherwell who yesterday lost 6-0 to Hearts. That means that Hearts ow match Celtic for points and for goal difference.

Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

They are playing theRangers on Wednesday night and presumably will lose as will Celtic at Hibs. That means it will be a last day decider for Celtic FC Women once against. Last year to determine if we’d be champions, as it was the case the year before under Fran Alonso. This time under Elena Sadiku – if she last that long – it will be to determine whether we finish fourth or fifth in the SWPL1 table.

A manager out of her depth, with nothing on her CV ahead of her time at Celtic to justify the appointment, Elena Sadiku’s time is up. There’s no structure, patterns of play or tactical system to that team and many of these players will have to go. Even the Celtic core with players like Clark, Craig and Ross are well past their best. Sadiku’s signing have flopped, the decent players at the club like Gallacher, have shown nothing this year.

Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

In the starting eleven yesterday you could give pass marks to Daugherty in goals and Lawton playing at centre-half, the latest player thrown into the centre half role vacated by Celtic-daft Caitlin Hayes who was shipped out in January after a dressing room row with Sadiku. After that the wheels came off this Celtic side in a car-crash of a season.

Time’s up Elena, thanks for your role in delivering the title and for guiding us through to the group stages of the Champions League but the season has turned into a nightmare and unfortunately the manager pays the price.

Celtic FC Women v theRangers, SWPL Sunday 11 May, at Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Celtic have a multi-million pounds training facility ready but remain curiously silent on it’s opening, no doubt recognising the folly in bringing this to the wider support at this time due to the dismal performances and campaign from Celtic FC Women.

We’ve a few suggestions on who might be a replacement as Celtic FC Women manager but the problem is bigger than that. Celtic underfund the women’s team and have the fourth or even fifth biggest budget in the league behind theRangers, Glasgow City, Hibs and on a par with Hearts.

Suppose you only get what you pay for.

Yesterday’s results

SWPL1 table as it stands