---
title: "Celtic: Michael Stewart criticises Vasilios Barkas following AC Milan defeat"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/michael-stewart-criticises-vasilios-barkas-milan/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2020-10-23T15:50:11Z"
modified: "2020-10-23T15:50:11Z"
---

# Celtic: Michael Stewart criticises Vasilios Barkas following AC Milan defeat

**Celtic have endured [two damaging defeats](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371) in the past seven days, with [Vasilios Barkas](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/tottenham-scouts-spotted-watching-aek-athens-duo/) among the Hoops players coming under fire.**

Following the loss the AC Milan in the Europa League last night, former Manchester United and Hibernian midfielder Michael Stewart, who now works as a pundit for BBC Sport, does not think that Barkas makes big saves like Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon did for the Bhoys.

### What Stewart said about Celtic goalkeeper **Vasilios** Barkas

He said, via [BBC Sport,](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/54603893) “Barkas has not stood out for me. Compare him to Fraser Forster or even Craig Gordon, he hasn’t shown he can make the big saves they can yet.”

### Is this criticism of **Vasilios** Barkas fair?

The 26-year-old arrived in the summer and had a lot of pressure on his shoulders as the replacement for Fraser Forster, who performed brilliantly last season when he returned to Parkhead on [loan](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fraser-forster/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/52570/wettbewerb/SC1/saison/2019) from Southampton. He played 28 games, keeping 14 clean sheets whilst only conceding 17 goals (via [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fraser-forster/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/52570/wettbewerb/SC1/saison/2019)) and his performances had many fans of the club [begging for him to stay.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premier/celtic/celtic-fans-hopeful-that-fraser-forster-will-stay-at-the-club/)

So far, Barkas has played 14 times in all competitions and conceded 11 goals, whilst keeping eight clean sheets, [(Transfermarkt).](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/vasilis-barkas/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/248658/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) This is a decent return but he has now been criticised in the Milan game by Stewart and also in the Old Firm derby by former Scotland international [Alan Hutton.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-alan-hutton-discusses-fraser-forster-following-old-firm-loss/)

These poor performances are not what the Hoops need in big games. Forster, on the other hand, [shone](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/08/rangers-celtic-scottish-league-cup-final-match-report) for the Hoops on the big occasion, such as his [stunning save from Lazio’s Danilo Cataldi](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fraser-forsters-miracle-expired-time-20720739) last year. This highlights that the criticism of Barkas is somewhat justified, but perhaps the Greek international will get better with experience as he adapts to the club.

***Celtic fans, have a read of our other articles on the club [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/)!***