‘I am shocked’: Celtic Icon can’t believe Brendan Rodgers is still considering 22-year-old Celtic player.

Celtic’s summer signing, Paulo Bernardo, recently faced unconventional criticism from BBC pundit Michael Stewart after the team’s 1-0 victory over Ross County.

Stewart expressed surprise at Brendan Rodgers’ decision to grant significant playing time to the 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder, questioning his energy levels and overall contribution to the team.

However, recent developments tell a different story. Bernardo has been a consistent starter in the last five league games, delivering standout performances with notable goals against Rangers and Dundee. His average rating of 7.4, as assessed by Fotmob, reflects his impactful contributions. In the 554 minutes he has played, Bernardo scored twice, created two goals, maintained an 84.6% passing accuracy, took 21 shots on goal, and created five chances.

Despite Stewart’s reservations, Bernardo’s performances have made him undroppable in the team. While there are areas for improvement, such as defending and tackling, as a creative midfielder, he fulfills his role effectively.

At just 22 years old, Bernardo is still learning and evolving under Brendan Rodgers, who is implementing a new system to compete with Europe’s top teams.

As Celtic strives for another championship, Bernardo’s on-field contributions challenge and potentially disprove Stewart’s initial skepticism. It remains to be seen how Bernardo’s growth and performances will shape Celtic’s season and potentially lead them to another title victory.