Spartak's McGeady Baffled at Central Role

© RIA Novosti . Anton Denisov / Go to the mediabankAiden McGeady
Aiden McGeady - Sputnik International
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Aiden McGeady has spoken of his bafflement at the decision of Spartak Moscow coach Unai Emery to play him in the center rather than in his natural position out wide in the 3-2 Champions League defeat to Celtic.

Aiden McGeady has spoken of his bafflement at the decision of Spartak Moscow coach Unai Emery to play him in the center rather than in his natural position out wide in the 3-2 Champions League defeat to Celtic.

McGeady was all but anonymous against his boyhood club in the pulsating game, won by a last-minute header from Celtic's Georgios Samaras.

Spartak were 2-1 up with 70 minutes to play, but couldn't hold the lead with center back Juan Manuel Insaurralde dismissed for a last-man foul on Garry Hooper.

"We were 2-1 up, after this we go to ten men and then they score two goals quite easily," McGeady said in televised remarks.

Pressed on why he appeared throughout in the center of the park, the Ireland international said: "This is the way the manager wants me to play. That's it. He wants me to play in the center. 'Inside, inside.'"

"After the first half I didn't think there was a lot of space in the center. Naturally, I want to get the ball wide to get the defender one on one, to get crosses in. Tonight he wants me in the center. This is the way he wants me to play."

It was Spartak's second-straight 3-2 defeat of the campaign after the same scoreline at the Camp Nou against Barcelona, where they had also led 2-1 up to 70 minutes.

McGeady conceded the team's chances of making the knockout stages were "slim."

"We had to win tonight to get ourselves a chance. We have no points now, Celtic have four, Benfica have one, obviously Barcelona are probably going to win the group so now it's going to be difficult."

Spartak next host Benfica on October 23, with Celtic traveling to Barcelona.

 

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