Celtic's FOURmidable Falls Flat: "Behind-the-Scenes" Fails to Deliver
Celtic’s FOURmidable film was very much like the club’s season – it had a lot of excitement to begin with, but failed to live up to the massive expectations after it was finished.
On the pitch, another domestic double secured, a memorable run in the Champions League and moments that’ll live long in the memory for fans. So when FOURmidable dropped on Celtic TV promising an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Brendan Rodgers’ squad, expectations were high. And while the documentary delivers on the big occasions and the emotions, it leaves you wishing for more of that proper behind-the-scenes magic.
Right from the off, the film hits you with the words “This is what it feels like to be Celtic,” spoken by Brendan.
You get the full montage: pre-season training at Lennoxtown, the players putting in the hard yards, the buzz from the fans who travelled on the USA tour and the squad stepping up their game.
The Champions League nights provide some of the documentary’s best moments. The energy at Paradise against RB Leipzig and Young Boys leaps off the screen. Kasper Schmichael talks about settling in and the atmosphere. Iit’s clear these nights mean everything to the players.
Callum McGregor is seen as the team’s “heartbeat” by his fellow players, with plenty of insight into his leadership in the dressing room. Then there’s Jota’s emotional third return to Celtic, signing a 5-and-a-half-year deal.
And the drama? It’s there in spades. The nerve-wracking League Cup final penalty shootout, with Daizen Maeda coolly stepping up to seal the win, is handled brilliantly. Rodgers’ dressing room speeches and McGregor’s captain’s talks give you an idea of what drives this group.
Plus, the celebrations on the bus, the fans singing from the stands and that memorable scene of Liam Scales admitting he’s “buzzing but half cut”.
But this is where the documentary falls short. For all the promise of behind-the-scenes access, FOURmidable is disappointingly light on genuine fly-on-the-wall content. Apart from a few brief dressing room scenes and a fleeting look at Jota’s medical, the film largely relies on match highlights, post-match interviews, and clips that fans have already seen on Celtic TV throughout the season.
Some key moments are completely missing or barely mentioned. The January derby defeat at Ibrox, a major talking point for fans, gets little more than a passing glance. The Scottish Cup Final, arguably the biggest game of the season, is entirely absent. Even Jota’s injury on title-winning day doesn’t any attention, with the focus quickly shifting back to celebrations. And what about the Dortmund Champions League game? Not a hint in sight.
This leaves the documentary feeling more like a polished season review than a raw, intimate documentary. There’s little in the way of tension, friction or genuine insight into player personalities off the pitch. The fans get to see the big moments and hear the players talk about their feelings, but the real backstage drama and depth are missing.
That said, the documentary does capture the spirit and togetherness that make Celtic special. Rodgers’ joke during the League Cup final - “If we play well, we win the cup; if we don’t, we win it anyway” - provides a nice moment of levity. The final scenes, with fans and players celebrating together at Celtic Park, remind you just why this club means so much to so many.
FOURmidable will definitely appeal to fans who want to relive the big moments and hear from key figures. But if you were hoping for a true behind-the-scenes experience, revealing the highs, lows, and raw emotions that come with a title-winning season, you might come away wanting more. It was nothing like an Amazon All or Nothing production.
FOURmidable feels like a missed opportunity. With more genuine access and honest storytelling, Celtic TV could produce something that really digs deep into what makes this team tick, on and off the pitch.
Celtic TV subscribers need to pay an extra fiver just to watch this, which I think is where a lot of the problem lies. If this was released to all fans, on YouTube, you’d have no complaints. To all Celtic TV subscribers and you’d probably want more but not complain.
The documentary is a solid watch but it leaves the door wide open for something even better next time.
Aaron Haire [@aaronhairee]