Celtic defender, Liam Scales, had a great season under Brendan Rodgers last season.
Brought in from obscurity during a defensive injury crisis, Scales kept the new summer signings of Gusaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki on the sidelines after impressing in a makeshift Celtic back-four at the start of his breakthrough season.
However, despite that, there were weaknesses in Scales’ game that were being exposed in the Champions League and, at times, domestically in Scotland.
And whilst the Celtic fans will be hoping Scales will learn from those for the new season ahead, the Celtic defender has revealed what he has definitely learned after facing Cristiano Ronaldo for the Republic of Ireland against Portugal last month.
Scales discusses Ronaldo ‘nightmare’
We discussed how Ireland’s media said Scales was dealt ‘a very harsh lesson‘ by the Portuguese superstar in the 3-0 away defeat and here, the Celtic star opens up on that experience and what he’s learned from it.
Scales said [Daily Record], “It was a nightmare to deal with it. That experience has definitely made me hungrier and it’s shown I need to work harder. It showed me that there are levels to go up.
“I think I will be better placed to play against these guys having had that experience against Portugal. It comes down to the fine margins when you face players of that level.
“Ronaldo’s first goal… another player would have taken that shot and I would have blocked it because my foot was there. But he looks for perfection and puts it right into the top corner, out of my reach and the keeper’s reach.
“Next time I play against quality like that, I will know that you can’t even give them that tiny margin. You have to be almost perfect against them.”
This should bode well for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers as they embark on a new Champions League adventure next season.
After signing a new long-term deal at the end of last season, Scales is clearly a part of the Celtic manager’s long-term plans.
Hopefully, this Ronaldo lesson will stand him in good stead as he once again faces up to Europe’s elite strikers with Celtic.
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