Nicolas Kuhn appears to be the favoured fall guy among Celtic supporters following the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen.
Like almost all of his team-mates the form of the German winger has tailed off in the second half of the season, for whatever reasons it seems that Kuhn’s performances have attracted the anger of the body language experts.
True, his celebrations after scoring away to Dundee United in the title clincher wasn’t the wisest but every manager in the game would offer far more than £3m to get their hands on a winger that delivers 21 goals and 15 assists over a season.
Included in those stats were three Champions League goals, the fact that they were against RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich has developed the theory that Kuhn is only interested in playing his way into a move to the Bundesliga.
Signed in January 2024 from Rapid Vienna, Kuhn’s arrival was a reaction to the dire contributions of Marco Tilio, Yang Htyun-jun and Luis Palma who had been signed by Mark Lawwell to replace Jota during the previous transfer window.
Dental issues saw Kuhn fail to impress in his early appearances, losing 10kg in weight naturally has an impact, from pre-season in July Kuhn was flying, demonstrating the benefits of getting a few weeks in alongside new team-mates.
Early season Kuhn was unstoppable, opponents knew that his trick was to cut inside from the right wing onto his left foot, they knew what he was going to do but couldn’t prevent it.
Until Jefte started to put the boot in, taking advantage of the relaxed attitude to the Laws of the Game applied by John Beaton and Don Robertson.
At Hampden and Ibrox over a three week period Kuhn was seriously attacked, it is only natural if he reacts to that, why put your body on the line against the hammer-throwers in Scottish football?
While Michael Nicholson sniggers and cracks jokes Celtic players are being booted black and blue.
At Pittodrie Pape Gueye booted Reo Hatate out of the cup final with Steven McLean and Beaton on VAR in agreement that a yellow card was sufficient punishment.
Robertson was in charge of the Scottish Cup Final, Daizen Maeda was twice kneed in the back without any punishment being doled out, substitute James Forrest had to be replaced after 30 minutes after another brutal attack that earned Ante Palaversa a yellow card, a worthwhile trade off.
Kuhn dropping this goal celebration then continuing to be absolutely anonymous for the remainder of the season was some laugh. Can’t stand him. pic.twitter.com/nJpW1rTNNq
— KDK (@KierenKerr) May 26, 2025
With November the most optimistic time for Jota to return to action Kuhn is going to be vital next season, a potential match winner in the Champions League Play Off ties at the end of August.
His partnership with Alistair Johnston on the right is highly effective, a key part of this season’s success.
Kuhn wasn’t born a Celtic fan, he won’t be chasing after the medal tally of James Forrest but he does realise the platform and opportunity that Celtic offers. Prior to his move to Rapid Vienna spells at Bayern Munich, Ajax and RB Leipzig failed to deliver for the German youth internationalist.
Starting the new season without Jota and Kuhn would be a massive risk, one that would start to tilt the prospects of reaching the Champions League group stage to odds against.
A five week break, being joined in pre-season training by new team-mates and certainty over Rodgers as manager would be ideal for Kuhn.
For those fans screaming ‘get rid’ the current alternatives are Palma, Yang and Tilio.
I think his performances since Leipzig have squandered any chance of that happening sadly. He’s no one but himself to blame – his form and overall effort has fallen off a cliff.
— KDK (@KierenKerr) May 26, 2025
Boys been criticised for barely putting a foot wrong, 36 g/a this year for a guy that cost £3m is incredible.
Can see where he’s coming from imo
— OE_67 🏴🇮🇪 (@OE_67) May 26, 2025
The same player who has 21 goals and 15 assists THIS season.
His drop off has been bad, but saying you can’t stand a player because he bit back is wild behaviour.
— Paul (@p____67) May 26, 2025
Looks like he’s been tapped up
— Rebel86 (@Bludwulf1888) May 26, 2025
Why did brendan replace him with Forest, who is a right footer, which means he doesn’t have to cut back inside to put a cross in. Play khun on the left. Forest proved it at Pittodrie and against St mirren when playing in his natural position.
— John Griffin 119 (@jgriffin14369) May 26, 2025
Your a crackpot mate. Cant stand a guy with 21 goals and 15 assists
— Mr Hugh Chegg, (@MrHughChegg) May 26, 2025
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3 Comments
by Pan
Superb article editor.
I am in the camp of those who wish Nicholas to stay. His figures speak loudly for him and folk should realise that everyone can have off days .What has become apparent is that a sizeable proportion of our support are moaners and react to the first negative thing they see without any reasoning. Therefore, they are not much different from our noisy neighbours support in that way.
by BriBhoy
Well said Pan. I’ve been supporting the Hoops from when I was a wee b(h)oy in the early-mid 70s and have been through many highs and lows. I think far too many of our more keyboard happy supporters have known nothing but the last couple of decades of almost uninterrupted and unprecedented success. And been spoilt by it, becoming as entitled as a lot of that mob were during the financial doping success of the peak Murray era.
Kühn did not have his best game in the final, but then who did? Even Schmeichel had a howler. He may not have had as good a second half of the season as his first, but he was pretty much an unknown quantity back then. More teams will have studied him since then and worked out more effective ways of neutralising, or at least stifling him. That’s just what happens. Kyogo also dropped off quite badly, long before he left for Rennes, but I don’t recall seeing this level of vitriol directed at him. Same with others I could mention.
You can also look at others on that pitch on Saturday who cost more in transfer money and who were equally, if not more, ineffective (Idah being one, but Engels also struggled by and large). But even that was on a day when, even with poor performances everywhere, we still dominated against a parked bus, were only denied by a post (Engels) and a crossbar (Schlupp thunderbolt) and only lost on a penalty lottery.
Kühn is not prime Messi or Ronaldo, but Maeda was quiet, Yang had a very poor game and Forrest was injured. With Jota out for the foreseeable future I’d still rather have Kühn available on the wings for the CL qualifiers and early season games than not. Especially when you see the names of wingers we are being linked with. The likes of Garnacho, Rashford, Grealish, Doku, Diaz, Scouse Jota etc are not on that list, even if they may become available in the summer.
by John A
On his day Kuhn is exceptional but think he no longer is dependable. Hatate missing is massive from midfield, his replacement just ain’t anywhere near the same quality. Think we need a centre back too