Brendan Rodgers Diego Simeone Liam Scales International Spain Scotland Ireland Champions League soccer Sport Brendan Rodgers Diego Simeone Liam Scales International Spain Scotland Ireland

Liam Scales says 'naive' Celtic need to get street-smart

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Liam Scales admits Celtic need to be more streetwise in Europe.Brendan Rodgers' side have been very competitive with a full quota of players in the Champions League but three red cards in four games have proved costly.Daizen Maeda's dismissal in Spain on Tuesday led to a 6-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid, which leaves Celtic bottom of Group E with one point and in need of wins over Lazio and Feyenoord and favours from Diego Simeone's team.Republic of Ireland centre-back Scales, who has not been booked in the Champions League, said of the red cards: "It's probably that we are a young team and maybe a bit naive at times."You come and play in Europe and the referees, you get nothing out of them.

They are a lot stricter and tackles that you might get away with domestically, they give."With VAR, you are going to pick up red cards in the way we've been doing."It's frustrating, because I think with 11 players on the pitch we had started the game quite well."I know we had conceded earlier before the red card, but I thought we had quite a bit of the ball, and it definitely would have been a more even game with 11 men.""I think we're at the level, it's just naivety and poor decisions at times have let us down."Scales also believes they need to learn from the animated reaction of the Atletico bench when Maeda made his tackle and was initially booked, before VAR intervened.Scales said: "To be honest, you see the way they react and all of their staff are up off the bench.

It definitely doesn't help."The VAR screen is right beside their bench as well, and he [the referee] was probably feeling the pressure."They are definitely more street-smart than us, that's for sure, the way they influence the referee."It's not the nicest part of the

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Celtic have it all to do against Lazio in Rome as Brendan Rodgers men look to pull off the Italian job to keep their European dreams alive.
DAVID McCARTHY: It's unlikely. They concede too many goals at this level and although Lazio aren't brilliant, they'll have enough to make it another tough night for Brendan Rodgers' men. CRAIG SWAN: Lazio are not in great form, but at the same time, it’s hard to fancy Celtic given their place in the section. GORDON PARKS: No. Celtic's Champions League record doesn't lie and winning in Rome will sadly be another step too far. FRASER WILSON: Don’t see it. Lazio are no great shakes but while Celtic have been competitive in all but one group stage game they have paid the price for being naive and I can't see anything other than the end of their Euro campaign.
Jonathan Obika headed an equaliser amid more late drama between Motherwell and Celtic as the champions were held to a 1-1 home draw.

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