Brendan Rodgers spoke to Sky Sports Scotland after he watched his team win the first three points of his second tenure and revealed there are areas where we can do better. 4-2 winners in the end up, the Hoops were 3-0 up in the first-half but that scoreline belied a different story on the pitch during that first 45 minutes.
Rodgers decided to start new defender, Maik Nawrocki, and cited after the game that Carl is possibly looking to depart Celtic Park this summer transfer window for private reasons. The Swedish international did come on later in the second-half but it now looks more and more likely that his days at Parkhead are numbered.
Malky MacKay commented after the game that if County had been a European side in Glasgow’s East End today, they might have been two up inside the first quarter-of-an-hour. Luckily for the Bhoys they didn’t have the quality to capitalise but there are sterner tests that lie in wait for Brendan’s men and he will be all too aware of that.
The Irishman has urged his team to be better out of possession and in thr pressing of the opposition team. Naturally he agree there will be some teething problems with a change of style and tactics and that, as well as players getting up to match fitness and speed could be the reason for a mixed performance today at Paradise.
🗣️ "Carl [Starfelt] could leave… He's been a fantastic servant, but there are reasons why he might want to move on"
Brendan Rodgers discusses the future of the Swedish defender and also reflects on his side's 4-2 win 👇 pic.twitter.com/XLiFniD53X
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 5, 2023
The result was a good result. Ross County started very well, we were slow to start. We had some really good moments with the ball but we need to be much better against the ball. We conceded two goals where we have to be better and some other half chance, especially in the first half,” the Celtic manager told Sky Sports.
“It’s what you expect a little bit. It’s never going to be perfect in the first game. The most important thing is to win and we played well and showed some great moments with the ball but collectively we’ll get better. It’s just the time of the season, first game. Players still finding their fitness. It’s Tony Ralston’s first 90 minutes, Cameron Carter-Vickers has just joined us in training and Maik is just in the door. It’s just guys getting up to fitness.
“It’s always good whenever you don’t play to the top of your game but can win well. Ross County and Malky’s team deserve credit as well because they came here and made it very difficult, man to man marking style. It’s tough to play against and you have to work hard to find space but when the players did that we scored some very good goals.
“He should have had another one. That’s Dave’s game, he’s very good on the ball, his timing is very good and he can finish so I’m pleased for him.
On the imminent Starfelt transfer Rodgers explained:“Carl could leave, hence the reason for not starting him. It might be something that goes through next week but we shall see.
“He’s been a fantastic servant here, he’s a great guy and very committed but there’s reasons why he might want to move on so we’ll see how that looks.”
Paul Gillespie