Celtic coach John Kennedy defends Champions League marking
Thursday 27 August 2015 18:14, UK
Celtic coach John Kennedy has defended the club's zonal marking following their early exit from the Champions League.
The Hoops conceded a late goal from a corner in the first leg of their play-off tie against Malmo, and then gave away two more goals from corners in the return match in Sweden on Tuesday.
The Scottish champions lost 4-3 over the two legs as a result and now drop down to the Europa League.
Kennedy explained the thought process behind the marking system employed by Ronny Deila's side.
"There's always debate about zonal and man marking and it will go on for ever more," he said.
"With the height and presence we have in the team, zonal marking has worked for us. It doesn't make it wrong because of one game.
"When you concede from man marking someone points the finger and says 'it's his fault'.
"But no one takes into consideration the team might have two players blocking the man who is trying to mark a player.
"If you go man for man it is easy to get blocks and you can take our biggest defenders out of the areas where the other team are going to put a ball in.
"Whereas with zonal, we know pretty much where the ball is going to go, we can protect the most dangerous area of the box and put our best headers of the ball in there.
"It failed for us the other night but it doesn't make it wrong."
Kennedy insists the focus on domestic competition will remain strong, regardless of which European competition Celtic play in.
"You want a home tie and we got it," he said after drawing Raith Rovers in the Scottish League cup. "Regardless of being in the Champions League or not, we would still approach these games in the same manner.
"We are bitterly disappointed with the result against Malmo but we have to get over that."
