“Win Ugly, Stay Strong”: Carter-Vickers Urges Celtic to Toughen Up as Goals Dry Up
Celtic vice-captain Cameron Carter-Vickers has delivered a rallying cry to his teammates, calling on the Scottish champions to rediscover the gritty side of their game as the team faces a worrying dip in attacking form. While Brendan Rodgers’ side might still be finding their rhythm in a season of transition, Carter-Vickers believes the time has come to grind out results, restore confidence, and keep the title challenge on track — even if that means abandoning the usual attacking flair that Celtic fans have come to expect.
After Thursday night’s 1-0 Europa League defeat to Braga, Celtic have now failed to find the net in five of their opening 12 fixtures in all competitions this season — a stark contrast to last year, when the Hoops only drew a blank five times across 57 matches. The sharp drop in productivity has already cost Celtic top spot in the league, with Hearts climbing above them following a string of convincing performances. With Motherwell — unbeaten in all 12 of their games so far — visiting Parkhead this afternoon, the pressure is intensifying.
Carter-Vickers, a calm and commanding presence in Celtic’s backline since his arrival in 2021, knows this isn’t a time for panic. But it is a time for realism.
“You always want to score goals. It’s something we are working on in training to try and improve,” he said in the buildup to today’s clash.
“But right now, we have to find a way to win games without scoring two or three. Maybe that means winning 1-0, being tight at the back, keeping clean sheets, and taking chances when they come. That might be what we have to do for the next couple of weeks. I’m confident that at some point it will click. When it does, hopefully we’ll be in a stronger position.”
A Team in Transition
While the goal drought is a clear concern, it’s not hard to trace the roots of Celtic’s stuttering start. The summer transfer window, once full of promise, ultimately left many supporters frustrated. Key departures were not adequately replaced in time, and major attacking reinforcements arrived after the club’s Champions League fate was already sealed.
Celtic’s forward line, so free-flowing and prolific last season, is still in flux. New additions like Sebastian Tounekti have shown promise in flashes, but others are still trying to find their feet. Kelechi Iheanacho, brought in to be the focal point up top, is not yet fully up to speed — and while Michael-Ange Balikwisha arrived with plenty of potential, he has struggled to break into the side or show his true capabilities so far.
Rodgers, a coach known for his attacking ideals, is now facing a tactical dilemma: stick with the expansive system and wait for chemistry to build, or tighten things up and play pragmatically while confidence is rebuilt?
For Carter-Vickers, the answer — for now — is simple: adapt, survive, and take the points however they come.
“Any time new players come in, it takes a while,” he said. “You need time for people to learn each other’s games. Sometimes that half a second makes a big difference.
“If I know exactly what you’re going to do, I can time my movement perfectly. If I don’t, then it might be a half-second off — and that can be the difference between scoring and not scoring.”
Fortress No More?
One of the most troubling aspects of Celtic’s form this season is their home record. Once a near-impregnable fortress, Parkhead has gone quiet in recent weeks, with the team failing to score in their last two home games. For a club that prides itself on its attacking heritage and passionate crowd, that’s more than a concern — it’s a warning.
Visiting teams are no longer arriving in Glasgow merely hoping to contain the champions. Some, like Motherwell today, are openly setting out to claim three points, and with good reason. Managed by Danish boss Jens Berthel Askou, the Steelmen have already beaten Aberdeen twice in league and cup, and are showing signs of being one of the surprise packages of the season.
Askou has admitted he’s bringing his team to Parkhead not just to compete, but to win. That challenge is one Carter-Vickers welcomes.
“I’ve not seen much of Motherwell, but I’ve heard they’re playing a bit more football now. Hopefully, that will make for a good game,” he said.
“Every league game you play, you want to get maximum points. That’s definitely the case this weekend.”
Pressure from Edinburgh
If the emergence of Motherwell as contenders wasn’t enough, Hearts’ strong start to the season has seen them leapfrog Celtic and take early control of the title race. The Tynecastle side, buoyed by a settled squad and consistent performances, have quietly become a serious threat in the opening stretch of the campaign.
It’s a scenario that mirrors last season to an extent, when Aberdeen briefly challenged at the top before fading in the second half of the season. For Carter-Vickers, the challenge posed by Hearts is just another reason why Celtic must rediscover their consistency — even if the style suffers in the short term.
“The challenge from Hearts at the top is good,” he said. “Last season you had Aberdeen up there for the first part of the season. It’s just another challenge for us that we look forward to.”
Building from the Back
Celtic’s recent run may have left fans longing for the free-flowing goals of last season, but Carter-Vickers is focused on what he can control: defensive stability. The U.S. international has formed a strong partnership at the back, and with the midfield struggling to create consistently, clean sheets have become more important than ever.
He knows that not every game can be won by a dazzling display of flair — and that sometimes, championships are won in October as much as they are in May, through grit, resolve, and an ability to weather storms.
“You have to be adaptable,” he said. “Whether it’s winning ugly, keeping clean sheets, or taking a half-chance — the important thing is to keep picking up points while we work things out.”
That message is likely to resonate throughout the dressing room — and in the stands — as Celtic enter a critical phase of the season. With the Europa League campaign in jeopardy, the domestic title race heating up, and new players still settling in, Rodgers and his side are under no illusions about the road ahead.
It won’t always be pretty. But for now, winning ugly might just be the most beautiful thing they can do.