Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

Post match quotes from Brendan




After the last-minute win for your team, what was your take on the game?

Well, it feels great to get out on the pitch again and obviously to win. It's never an easy game here at Kilmarnock. You see they've started well in terms of not losing games and it tells you the resilience that they have, but I thought we deserved to win the game.

It was obviously very tight. First half we had moments, but not enough. We were a bit slow. Obviously there's lots of new players coming in, the connections in the team, so not maybe as fluid. But second half, once we started to feed the wide players quicker and get through the pitch quicker, then we were really dominant in the game, deserved to go in front. And, yeah, then we looked like we could go on to score another goal.

But of course at 1-0 it's never signed off because no matter how much dominance you have, you're still only a goal up. We concede from the corner, that gives them a little bit of momentum. So then we have to really show our fight, resilience, but also our persistence to keep going right to the very end, and thankfully we get the win in the end.








What was your take on the penalty incident?

Yeah, listen, I think if you're the home team and you get that given against you then of course you may not be so happy. I think for myself, we create the chaos in the box, create the opportunity and then obviously we get that moment where it does pop up and hit someone on its way, maybe into goal. I don't know, but it's certainly on the one image I've seen. But like you say it pops up and hits his arm.






I was really pleased with Kelechi Iheanacho, for him. I think the last penalty he took was for me at Wembley against Manchester City in the Community Shield, he stuck that one away and that was his other moment there, and I think that's a big moment for him with the supporters and everything else. So, yeah, we got it, he's still got to score and he scored it and then we take the win.



It was almost a big player mentality. Is that what he's going to bring to the club?

He's got big moments in him and once he gets fitter, he's only going to get better. Obviously our penalty taker had been off the pitch. Benji wanted the penalty and had the confidence, which is great. But my message was for Kelechi. I know what he brings, I know the confidence he brings, and I also know what a goal would do for him. So delighted for him and for the team in particular because it's been a long couple of weeks, but it's a big win that for us




Were you happy with Sebastian Tounekti's performance today?

Yeah, I thought he was, yeah, it was very good.

Do you think more is going to come from him as well?

Yeah.




In terms of that celebration at the end, did it feel big? You know, the players celebrating with the fans. Did you almost feel the club needed that, just that unity again to bring them back?

Yeah, that's what this club is about and that feeling and that Celtic spirit that keeps you going right to the very end, and obviously it paid off for us. So, I'm delighted for the players first and foremost, like I said, all eyes on them today. Difficult surface, everything we know about Kilmarnock, a difficult team to play against. But to come out and get the win and get that feeling.

I've been here often enough, like some of the senior players, to know the importance of a win like that. Even early in the season, it's an important victory that for us and, yeah, there we go.

A really good one and sends everyone home on an awful day, really happy









Was it a tricky day to navigate with all the protests and certain chants etc?

Yeah, I'd spoken to the players at the hotel beforehand. I mentioned it yesterday, the importance of concentration. But I then talked through in the hotel, I talk a lot about the first five minutes with the team, but today was about the first 12 minutes. And what we needed to do in that 12 minutes and how we have to manage the situation and we had to be really clear on the performance on the pitch, what it is we wanted, the speed and the tempo, and we knew we could control all these things in terms of pressing and all that side of it and then obviously confidence.

You need to go and play with that level of confidence. And, the players, there's been a lot said and written and talked about but ultimately we get onto the pitch, we can control that. And just so pleased for them that they could get the win to get us going again on this next run of games.






Did you feel a difference when the fans came in with the whole tempo?

Well, I think we have to control whether there's no one in the support base. I think what we talked about is that, you know, the supporters will give a new energy when they come in. And when the end's packed, then you can see that, and you can feel that once the end was packed and everyone's behind the team, and they can suck the ball towards the goal and especially that second half when everyone's there.

But we have to as a team, understand that whether there's no one there or whether it's packed or whether there's only half there, we can still control the tempo and the and the organisation and the speed and the intensity of the game. But of course, when you have the backing behind you, that just gives you that extra push and that extra energy and we certainly felt that.







Today could have gone wrong, given the protests and the last couple of weeks, but you must be really satisfied to put that noise behind you?

Yeah, very satisfied. It's been a challenging couple of weeks and as a manager and a supporter of Celtic, I don't really like that, to see that. I really don't. For us we want to be always together and we always want to be the very best that we can be as a football club and the quicker we can find that, then the stronger we will be. Until that moment comes and there's some differences which, you know, I will respect. I need to make sure that the team is focused and I manage the situation the best I possibly can to make sure we keep getting the results. And yeah, it is a challenge but that's the job of the manager to deal with it.












How did you meeting with Michael Nicholson on Friday go? Were lines being drawn?

No, listen, Michael's a good man. He's a good man. I have a really good relationship with him and Chris McKay, because they're the guys that I deal with day to day. We all know what it is we need to assess and look at and be better at.

You look at Sebastian, you know today, if we have him in when we wanted to have him in, then it could be a different sport for us, you know, outstanding he was. So these are all things that we need to find clarity on and be better at. But in the meantime, the concentration's on football.






How impressed were you with Marcelo Saracchi's influence in the game? He got the assist, he was also playing a little bit inverted as well?

Yeah, I liked him. He's a player of experience. He can do that role coming in on the inside. He hasn't played for a little while, so the plan was to give him an hour, and he did that very well.

Just again, getting used to the adaptation to the system, he's coming from maybe fractionally slower play. So for us we want to get the ball more progressive and get it forward quicker. In the second half he's up there and it's a brilliant cross from that half space, because we talk about that against back fives when you're switching it and you're working the ball. Making those crosses, it's difficult for the other team to defend, and he made a great ball, and then that allows Kieran Tierney to come in and play the last 30 minutes or so.

 

It is very important for a man like Rodgers to get HIS players in. He is a world class man manager eho needs all the funds he demands to bring in the people he love to work with.

Skickat från min SM-F956B via Tapatalk

 

I wouldn’t say that. That Huns have his number now. He can’t buy win against worst hun team and manager in long time.
That big hun Beaton won much today for us. Nothing Brendan did.
We been so poor all season. To many players are hiding and we have play ball backwards all time. It not be long til we drop points if we dont start playing faster and direct

 

Hopefully we can kick on and start playing again.

The whole transfer window fiasco was a * shambles and a huge distraction from the football on the park. Brendan has to get on with his job and keep us winning games. He needs to give the huns a skelp as well, his record/levels of performance in the last what 5 games or so vs them has been absolute dog *.

 

Bit of a paper over the cracks performances. First half we were really poor. Had a 20 minute spell in the second half I thought we improved and attacked with more purpose. Overall glad to take 3 pts and move on.

This isnt a good Celtic team right now though. The midfield set up is poor and lacks intent. The patterns of attack are quite predictable. The mentality of the players is much too safety first with an unwillingness to get the ball into scoring positions in favour of retaining possession and opting for safer passes.

Tounetki looked a bright spark which was good. Played with the kind of attacking ambition and intent the team has been lacking of late. We need much more of this across the team though.

 

Aye that's the mental thing, other than St Mirren away and ourselves I was fully expecting them to win every other game fairly comfortably. Motherwell are typically * against both of us at Fir Park, Dundee should have been a guaranteed 3 points and Hearts haven't performed against them at Ibrox in about 13 year.

When I seen the fixture list, by this time I would have been happy if we were even just 3 points clear.

 

The huns struggle to get within 10 points of us. If they beat us in a match it's because the league is already won

 

Brendan Rodgers has dismissed claims of a Celtic 'crisis', with the manager insisting that any disharmony is 'natural', given the changes in on-field personnel at the club.


His side got back to winning ways last Sunday, defeating Kilmarnock 2-1 at Rugby Park, thanks to a late penalty by new signing Kelechi Iheanacho.

Despite this, there has been chatter and speculation surrounding the present running of the club, which has prompted protest from the support, which began at Ayrshire last weekend.

Previewing his side's match at Firhill in the Premier Sports Cup against Partick Thistle, Rodgers alleviated fears of discontent within the camp. "I see this noise around about Celtic being in crisis, but it absolutely is not. The team is coming together again," he said.




Domestically, if you look at how we started the season, we’re not at our best, of course, we’re not. Everything that is happening right now is all natural with the changes that we've had, with players adapting and coming in late into our structure.

"Whilst that is happening, our duty and our idea is to still win games, and the players are doing that. You see the togetherness, and ultimately, you want that within every sector of the club. I think that’s what the supporters won’t forget – they’re there to support the team and give that encouragement to the team.

"I think you sensed that at the end of the game."

The holders face off against Partick Thistle this Sunday at Firhill in the League Cup quarter-final, with the fellow Glasgow side managed by Mark Wilson, a former Celtic player.

 

Brendan Rodgers has aimed a thinly-veiled swipe at Barry Ferguson, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds over their comments on Rangers boss Russell Martin.

The trio were in interim charge of the Ibrox club at the end of last season and wanted to remain permanently but were overlooked in favour of the former Southampton boss. Results had been mixed during their short tenure,


Martin has had a tough start and is yet to win a Premiership game, sitting tenth after five fixtures. He is facing intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike.

Ferguson, McCann and Dodds are back working in the media and have been among those giving their opinions on the siutation. Rodgers has taken issue with that given they were in his shoes not so long ago, and not finding it all that easy.

The Celtic boss said: "I have some issues around the moral aspect when I see people commenting on how he's doing and and and not that long ago, they were stood in his shoes or sat on the bench. So I don't like that when I see a manager being pulled up on certain parts of the game, certain tactics of the game, that not so long ago, other people couldn't work that out either.




I'm always aware and and I look to see what other managers will be saying, what people who've been in that in that position, who should know better.

"And some will say 'well, I've got to comment'. But you've walked in the shoes. There's nobody, unnless you've been in the shoes of a manager of a club, do you really, really understand what that person's going through. And if you have been in that position, then you should respect that. You know how tough it is, you know how challenging it is.

"So for me, I've always, as I've always found that interesting when when managers who are currently in a job that are taking a bit of stick from from people, like I say, who weren't that long ago in the job and found it challenging."

Rodgers has launched a passionate defence of Martin, who is facing stick right now after such a horrendous start to life in Govan.

One criticism this week has been the decision to take the squad on a team-bonding exercise at Loch Lomond. The Celtic manager points out that is normal and says he did something similar this week.




He explained: "Being a manager in this modern game and especially at the high end clubs and the big pressure clubs, it's a big challenge. Because all the eyes are on you. It can be a lonely place. The voices of safety are even less. There's hardly any time to breathe, but you have to find a way.

"I see some of the stuff from during the week when when when the team went on a team building exercise. Every team does that. Like anything in life, it's timing. In another time, if if Russell does that and and they were won a few games, everyone would be saying 'what a great idea.'

"We had a team building exercise during the week with the the players and the partners and wives and girlfriends, and it was really nice. Thankfully, you guys didn't get to hear about it. No, but it happens. So yeah, and I see the the scrutiny that's that's on Russell and whatever happens for him, he will be better for it."

The Northern Irishman had a brief chat with his counterpart from across the city after the recent derby draw between the two sides.

He added; "I spoke to Russell after our game when we played at Ibrox. He's a big guy. He's a big man.

"He was a really good servant for Scotland when he played. He had a fantastic career built around will and desire and and had a really good career, stepped into management, has done well with the clubs that he's that he's been at.

"And he's now taken on an opportunity up here to try and and transform. So, give him room to breathe. You know, of course there's always a demand, there will always will be. But it's other people outwith that, I struggle to to see how they can say the thing that they say with a young manager who is trying to to get his way in."

 

Brendan, how's the squad looking for this weekend?

Yeah, pretty much the same as last weekend in terms of availability. Auston (Trusty) and Tony (Ralston) are doing really well on the pitch now and should hopefully rejoin the group next week. Both of them were in boots, so they’re out of that and hopefully good news for them.

Alistair is doing really well, not close yet to playing, but will hopefully be out on the pitch again soon, finding his strength in the gym, but apart from that, the squad is strong.







How much are you looking forward to this Premier Sports Cup match on Sunday?

Yeah, very much so, I think it's a competition we've enjoyed throughout the years and certainly my time here, I've always put a real focus on that to do well in, so we’re currently the holders of it, so we want to make sure that we can not just defend it but win it, and that's the plan.







How much does it give you for the rest of the season when you have a good run in this competition, when you go on and win this competition?

Well yeah, we'll have experienced both because obviously my first season here (after my return) we didn't and then we went on and we still ended up having a really good season. But I think it gives you that real focus and purpose at the beginning of the season and obviously it's an opportunity to get to Hampden. You know we want to get there. We respect Partick and Mark (Wilson) and his team. So we have to go there and play well to get to the semi-final.











Just going back to last weekend, Brendan, great result, but just a few minutes after full-time, the fans are already chanting, 'Sack the board.' What's going to have to change, and what's going to have to happen for the focus of the supporters to be fully on what's going on in the pitch as opposed to what's happening off it?

Well, I think the supporters are focused on what's going on the pitch. I think just by your nature of how you say what you said, we done really well but, so let's forget what you said after but, and then just talk about the football.

The football, the team is in a good place domestically. The team is strong, the spirit is strong. We were working on finding rhythm. You know I think this time last year, the team was in great rhythm. Why? Because there were lots of players who played there before, and we were just adding the likes of Nicolas Kuhn, and then we had everything in the team. Speed, dynamism, Matt O'Riley hadn't gone. So the team is in a great place.

This year now we've made changes, players have gone, new players are coming in, and young players are making their debuts. So it takes a little bit of time for the rhythm. And rhythm breeds confidence, and that's what we're looking to find as the team and that will come because the spirit is good, the environment is good. And we will get there.

But in the meantime, what is important is to win, and like the games like last week, in my opinion, we deserved to win the game. We had to really go to the very end and show that mentality to win, and when we did win, we were very happy. So everything else is the side show for you guys. For me, the focus is the football.









Is there any worry, though, if that was to happen again? It could become a bit of a distraction, not for the players, but a distraction from the good work that's actually going on.

Sorry, if what could happen again?

If there was another fan protest.

Well, I think whatever happens on that front, we still control how we start the game, how we press the game, how we pass the ball. That's all within our control.

So the supporters, I'm not going to tell the supporters how to feel, how to act. We want this club to be tight together. And we saw when the supporters did come in, they helped the team and that's obviously what we want. But I can't tell supporters how to act. But what I can say is that we can control the start of games. We can control what we do within the game, and that's what our focus is on.







Do you feel the way the team played showed that they're focused on the football, you know the performance showed that what goes on off the park will not impact the way they're playing?

I don't want to downplay it either. I think the connection here is always the supporters and the team, and we get that real lift from our supporters, which we got. But for me it's also making it clear to the team, and having that clarity around it, because there's obviously controlling a lot of the noise that goes on around what was going to happen. But we can, like I said, we can control that with our confidence and with our speed and our playing and our intensity. And the players started the game well.








At the end, the fans were chanting your name and clapping the players, which shows the fans are fully behind the team?

100 per cent. I see this noise around about Celtic in crisis, and this sort of thing. It absolutely is not. You know, the team is coming together again.

Domestically, if you look how we how we started the season. We're not at our best, of course we're not, but everything that's happening now is all natural with the changes that we've had and players adapting and coming in late into our structure. But whilst that's happening, our duty and our idea is to make sure we still win games and the players are absolutely doing that, and you see that togetherness. Of course, ultimately, you want that within every sector of the club. But I think that support and that's what the supporters won't forget. They know that they're there to support the team and give that encouragement to the team, and I think you sense that at the end of the game.











How important has Callum McGregor been during this? We spoke last week, he was very positive and said he'd be speaking in the dressing room and make sure they're not distracted?

No, he's a brilliant captain, and he's been here a long time, and he understands it, and he's been through a few waves of turbulence in his time here. So he understands that you can't get distracted, and he'll be using his experience, of course, to share that message within the dressing room




Brendan, have you thought of this squad, obviously playing Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday? Will you freshen things up for the weekend or for midweek?

Yeah, we'll have a look. I think it's just important to have a good week's training. See where we're at. We'd obviously no midweek game, so we're not having to rest and recover from for that. It's that balance between getting the rhythm in the team, to making fresh changes, so that's something that we'll make clear over the coming day or so.







You mentioned Alistair's making good progress. Is he ahead of schedule or where you expect him to be?

Yeah, I think he is. You never know. There's always a timeline on players whenever they're injured. But of course, it's then individually how they react to that, and he's been coming along really well.







Can I ask you about Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, does he just have to be patient to get in?
Yeah, I think it was a medium to longer term we were looking at young Jahmai here. Obviously we had our center-halves in place. But he was a young player that we saw as a talent. Of course, in the Champions League games, there's more space on our bench. You're not really having to put two and three center halves on your bench. So he's come in. The team have defended well in the main. But he's here for the 12 months at least to show what he can do and it's not easy.

You come to a club like Celtic. You still have to earn a position in the team. You come into a new environment. You're moving away from his club. So it just takes time again. It's that adaptation, you know.

Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers have been doing really well. Dane Murray has been great over the course of pre-season. And of course, we've still got Auston Trusty, who's just coming back from injury. And so the competition is there. And like I always say, for every player you have to earn your place. But I'm really pleased with his development, how he's been moving in the right direction, adapting to the intensity of how we work and how we play and and moving away from Manchester as well.

So yeah, I've been pleased for him, and I'm pretty sure that over the course of the season, when that opportunity comes, he'll show that he's ready.








Having two right-backs out isn't ideal, but great opportunity for Colby Donovan. He started on Sunday. How do you feel he did in what was a pretty difficult game and is this maybe a gilt-edged opportunity for him to give you a selection headache?




Yeah, I think for any young player it's it's always a great opportunity. I've really liked Colbyfrom when he came in, just seeing him and seeing his development. There's absolutely no doubt he has the personality to play for Celtic, and you know I can see in how he trains every day, you know people say train how you play, I always say train how you fight, you know, you go on to the pitch, you're there to fight. And he's that player who does that. But he also has quality as well.

And I think that stepping in, it wasn't an easy game, the conditions, the AstroTurf pitch. Yeah, some bits we misplaced passes and whatever else, but he grew into the game and at the end he's the one that's down the side of the pitch and making the cross. So I'm really pleased for him. Still a long, long way to go for him to be a regular player here, but he's shown potential.

The personality is a big thing at a club like Celtic, as much as technical ability?

It's everything. Arguably, it's the biggest trait that you need. You've seen it over here for many years at big clubs. And a club like Celtic, where really gifted players, really talented players come in. But they're unable to deal with pressure. Consistency and pressure. Consistency to train.

Because some clubs you'll come into, and as a player, you come in and you can get away with maybe one or two good games a month and then being off it and then maybe not being quite there in training and turning up for the games. So many players you hear, "I'm not really a training player, I'm a match player." That doesn't work at the biggest clubs.

For you to even earn the right to play with a top team and a top player, you have to be able to train with them. So that means you need to be eight, nine, 10 out of 10 every time you train. So so that is a challenge for players. So in order to get over that, you need to have the personality. And you may not always have the best talent, but it can be enough. If you have sufficient ability and talent, but big personality and a mental toughness, you have an opportunity.









Last week Sebastian Tounekti had an explosive debut, what do you make of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and his impact so far? He played left side first week and on the right last week. How will his progression go?

Yeah, to be fair, that's on me. The boy's a left-sided player. He's a really technically gifted player. He has great footballing qualities. His best side is on the left side. But he's played in other positions. He's played on the right-hand side previously in his career. He's played as a 10. He's played as an eight. So he's played across that front line.

I wanted to see him on that right side. But there's no doubt his best position is from the left. And even if Sebastian is to play there and he sits out a game or whatever else, we still need two really impactful wingers that can play. You know, we thought Daizen Maeda was going. So we needed to make sure we were covered.

Obviously, we're not able to get what we want on the right side. So I wanted to try him, and like I say, we're in this process of finding out for players because they're just in the door. But there's no doubt he's much more comfortable on the left side.










Daizen Maeda showed you can't question his commitment for his performance on Sunday. If there was any chat about, you know, his mind being elsewhere, you could put that to bed?

I think it's probably been a difficult period for him. He doesn't let out a lot of emotion, but I think you see in Daizen the integrity of what he brings to the team and his own game and what it brings. So that was a brilliant goal. You know, the movement, any former strikers or strikers watching that will have seen his movement. There's other areas of his game that are different to other strikers. But he scores goals, and his movement and the cross in was was very, very good and he gets his goals. So I just think that whilst he's here, he's a type of player, especially as we move through the season. He's very honest to the game, and I think he's that type of player that it will be very hard for him not to give 100%.












And you know what the scrutiny is like, Russell Martin is going through that just now, how does someone get through something like that?

I think being a manager in this modern game, and especially at the high-end clubs and the big pressure clubs, it's a big challenge. Because all the eyes are on you. It can be a lonely place. The voices of safety are even fewer. There's hardly any time to breathe. But you have to find a way.

You know, I see some of the stuff from during the week when the team went on a team-building exercise. Yeah, every team does that. Like anything in life, it's timing. You know, in another time if if Russell did that and they had won few games, everyone would be saying what a great idea. You know, you look as a manager for blocks of time where you can. So we had a team-building exercise during the week with the players and the partners and wives and girlfriends. And it was really nice. Thankfully, you guys didn't get to hear about it. But it happens.

I see the scrutiny that's on Russell and whatever happens for him, he will be better for it. I have some issues around the moral aspect when I see people commenting on how he's doing and and not that long ago, they were stood in his shoes or sat on the bench. So I don't like that when I see a manager being pulled up on certain parts of the game, certain tactics of the game that not so long ago other people couldn't work that out either. Everything is on him.

He will be stronger for it. He's got a bit of experience behind him at 39. I was 39 when I managed Liverpool. So I know exactly what it's like. You come into the bigger arenas and everything else. But this will make him stronger, and you just have to have that inherent belief in what you're doing, believe in it and and hopefully then you get the opportunity to come through that.

Is it a bit unfair when guys who have previously been there are commenting?

I've over 800 games now as a manager, and so I'm always aware and I look to see what other managers will be saying, people who have been in that position, who should know better. And some will say, 'Well, I've got to comment.' Yeah, but you've walked in the shoes.

You know, there's nobody unless you've been in the shoes of a manager or a coach, do you really, really understand what that person's gone through. And if you have been in that position, then you should respect more. You know how tough it is. You know how challenging it is. You know certain things you can't change that you can't bring out into the open. So for me, I've always found that interesting when managers who are currently in a job are taking a bit of stick from people who, like I say, weren't that long ago in the job and found it challenging.

I know it's such an intense rivalry but would you reach out to Russell at all or wish him all the best or give him encouragement?

I spoke to Russell after our game when we played at Ibrox. He's a good guy. He's a good man. He was a really good servant for Scotland when he played. He had a fantastic career built around will and desire and and had a really good career, stepped into management, has done well with the clubs that he's been at and has now taken on, obviously, of course, an opportunity up here to try and transform Rangers. So give him room to breathe. Of course, there's always a demand. There always will be, at Celtic and Rangers, of course. But there are other people that I struggle to see how they can say the things that they say against a young manager who is trying to make his way in.













Brendan, picking up on one thing you said in last week's media conference about the briefing in the media was a cowardly act against you... Have you received any indication of that?

It's done. It's done.

 

Thought, again, spoke well. Trying to focus on what the team can do moving forward.
Didn't bite again. Journos youd think would have learned by now that he tends not to rise to their probing.

Looking forward to the game sunday

 

Think it was decent of him to speak out re Russell Martin, guy doesn’t seem an utter *. Though he knew what he was buying in to so * him and * the rancid club he’s at.

 

One of the most media savy managers in the game, ill give him that

 

Big Brendan wants Russell Martin here for the 10