Brendan Rodgers held his media conference this afternoon signalling the end of the two-week long international break and the resumption of hostilities in the Scottish Premiership with Hearts visiting Celtic Park tomorrow looking an emulating their big cousins showing…
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![Auston Trusty is back]()
- Auston Trusty is back after missing the Glasgow Derby. Photo Celtic FC
Here’s everything that was said….
Q: Brendan, how has the break been, and what have you reflected on during it?
Brendan Rodgers: “Obviously, when you lose a derby game like that, and especially the manner at the end. The disappointment lingers on a little bit longer, of course. We were obviously disappointed with the result. However, what I can’t forget is what this team has done over the course of the season. We’ve been tremendous through large parts of the season and now we sit 13 points clear, we have eight games to go, the possibility of a Scottish Cup final. We’re in a really good place. Of course there’s always disappointment when you lose one of those games.”
Q: Given that then, how do you find the balance between focusing on those real positives that you mentioned there, but also maybe addressing some of the things you might need to address after that game?
Brendan Rodgers: “Well, it’s always the way. Whenever you lose a game, there’s a setback, there’s a disappointment, and then you have to bounce back. And obviously, of course, when I analyse the game and I look at it away from the context of actually being in it, then that obviously makes it easier to figure out. I think in both games, both of those Rangers games, Ibrox and at home, we haven’t started well at all. And whether it is a subconscious thing, I’m not sure. Being 13 points clear, 16 points clear, whether that does have a deep effect on how you enter into the game. It shouldn’t, because our mantra is always to start very quick and in lots of games we do. But we didn’t, and credit to the Rangers, because they did. They got 2-0 up and then we had to bounce back. But from that second half, we shouldn’t lose the game. It’s as simple as that. We get back into it. 2-0, two each, 15 minutes to go. Good in the second half, not giving away much. And then we concede the goal. So, the analysis is pretty easy, but that’s my responsibility to make us better the next time.”
Q: Players have been away on international duty. How is Kasper Schmeichel in terms of the injury and how long he’ll be out?
Brendan Rodgers: “Well, we don’t know how long he’ll be out. We’re just still waiting to hear on that. He’s obviously got some issues with his shoulder. I spoke to him the other day and he’s okay. He’s obviously disappointed that they lost their second game. But in the main, he’s okay.
