Celtic Boss Makes Huge Admission About £6.8m Midfielder: Can His Growth Stabilise Celtic?

Celtic Boss Makes Huge Admission About £6.8m Midfielder: Can His Growth Stabilise Celtic? Celtic needed a response at Fir Park, and Mika Baur delivered the kind of midfield performance that could help Martin O’Neill steady his side’s season. The Hoops entered Sunday’s match after three consecutive defeats before the international break. However, they secured a valuable 2-0 victory over Motherwell, with Camilo Durán opening the scoring before Benjamin Nygren added the second. Baur arguably stole the show. According to The Celtis Are Here , O’Neill believes the 22-year-old produced his best performance since joining Celtic. The manager praised his consistency throughout the match, highlighting his control and ability despite his relatively lightweight frame. “I thought he played really well today, really well,” the Celtic manager said. “Maybe his best game for us so far. “And he kept it going throughout the whole period of the match. And considering, you know, he’s quite lightweight, I thought his whole control, his ability today, I thought it shone through.” The numbers backed up that assessment. Baur completed 59 of his 64 attempted passes, achieving 92 per cent accuracy, while creating four key passes. Crucially, he offered far more than simple possession retention, helping Celtic progress through midfield and create opportunities against Motherwell. Why Celtic’s £6.8m signing is growing in importance Celtic reportedly paid £6.8 million to sign Baur from Paderborn during the summer. The German midfielder has already shown glimpses of his technical quality, but Sunday’s display offered stronger evidence of his ability to influence matches consistently. His recent international breakthrough has added another encouraging chapter to his development. Baur became the 1,000th player to represent Germany’s senior men’s team, while he previously discussed the impact of spending eight days working with Jürgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund. That experience could prove valuable as he adjusts to the demands of Scottish football. Celtic have lacked midfield control during difficult spells this season, and Baur’s willingness to demand possession gives O’Neill another player capable of connecting defence with attack. His passing range and movement between the lines can help Celtic break down compact opposition rather than rely on individual moments of quality. How vital is Baur’s creative growth to stabilising Celtic’s midfield? LINZ, AUSTRIA – AUGUST 25: Mika Baur of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images) Baur’s development could prove central to Celtic ’s recovery after their damaging run of defeats. O’Neill needs midfielders who can retain possession under pressure, progress the ball quickly and create chances when opponents deny space in dangerous areas. The German has demonstrated those qualities, although one impressive afternoon cannot settle every question about his consistency. Celtic need him to reproduce this performance against different opponents, particularly when matches become tight and midfield battles grow more physical. His creative growth could give O’Neill greater tactical flexibility, allowing Celtic to control matches without sacrificing attacking threat. At £6.8 million, the midfielder represents a significant investment, but his technical ability and recent progress offer encouraging signs. If Baur becomes the dependable creative force his latest performance suggests, Celtic could gain precisely the midfield influence they have lacked during their recent struggles.