A delighted Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media at Firhill after the 4-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final win over Partick Thistle yesterday afternoon…
Here’s everything that was said after the match and the semi-final draw which sets up another Glasgow derby and gives Celtic the chance to secure a first win in 2025 over theRangers…
Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: Thoughts on that win Brendan?
Brendan Rodgers: “I thought we played very well. We’ve come to Partick, Mark’s team have been doing really, really well, really consistent over these last numbers of weeks and these can be really tricky games, but I thought we handled it really well. Our football was really good, intense, scored goals, aggressive when we didn’t have the ball and a really professional performance.”
Q: Big week coming up as well. How much did you need a performance and result like that?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think we’re building. It’s very, very difficult to be hot all year round. Last year, we started like a house on fire and maybe towards the end of the season, we just dropped a little bit. This season, obviously, with everything over the summer, it’s taken a bit of time, but we’re building and building rhythm and confidence, and I thought you could see that today. So, yes, it’s such a long season, still very early, but seeing that today shows that we’re on the right path.”
Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: I saw more fan protests before the game, but you could tell by the reaction of the fans that they’re very much behind the team?
Brendan Rodgers:“Very much so, very much so. I will never tell the supporters what to do or feel, but I don’t think they’ve forgotten the team because they know the support, the players feel it, they get encouraged by it, and we had a great backing all day.”
Sebastian Tounekti scores. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: Looking at the third goal, especially there, Brendan, was it encouraging to see the link-up between Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho and you see that quality in those areas now?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, and I think that it was interesting because, obviously, they looked to come and press early in the second half, and then we were able to play through that. Sebastian’s made a great impact since he’s come in .He’s got great speed, really good in the one-versus-one. Kelechi is very good. I know him well in those tight spaces, in and around the box. He’s got a lovely touch and his set-up play for the goal was excellent. I’m glad for Sebastian because that’s one area, when I spoke to him before he came in, that I felt we can improve his game because for him to keep progressing, he’s got big talent, but he needs to add numbers to his game.”
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Decent performance yesterday, on another poor pitch, so exciting prospect of what this team of ours, to see what can actually be produced in the next 2 games on better playing surfaces.
The structure of the squad is completed now by the looks of things. Hopefully the one dimensional look, doesn’t become an issue, where it’s so obvious what our gameplan will be for every game, with starting 11, and subs used in games.
The fiasco over the summer, I still don’t believe is totally finalised either, especially as only 3 changes are allowed in January to our European squad, which I still believe that potentially has more than 3 at present, who could be looking at there futures elsewhere from ourselves.
Got time now, over the challenges ahead over the next few months now, so have to see what develops regarding that situation. At least when jota returns, it could provide a better balance in our attacking options, especially as we could look unbalanced with our right side in operation?
Big few months for yang, who even if quite enough yesterday, still had big moments within the game. Our style of play involves big moments within it, plenty produced yesterday, and delighted to see so many contributing to those big moments, as that should improve confidence going forward for ourselves imo.
Would like to think that yesterday, was eventually the kick start of our season, been a while in waiting, but eventually achieved by the looks of things.
Whether that’s good or enough, remains an answer in waiting, but confidence growing after yesterday, for myself anyway.