A delighted Brendan Rodgers spoke to Paul Cuddihy at Celtic TV after Celtic’s 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon. Goals from Callum McGregor, Jota and Adam Idah settled the one-sided contest in which Kasper Schmeichel didn’t have a save of note to make…
It was a performance and a victory that sets Celtic up for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off on Tuesday night in Munich. Here’s everything that Brendan Rodgers said to Celtic TV after the win over Dundee United that increased Celtic’s lead over theRangers to 16 points ahead of their game at Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon…
Celtic TV: Brendan, a comprehensive win, but what pleased you most about the performance today?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think, firstly, the attitude in the game was very good. So right from the off, we were looking to impose ourselves in the game. And I thought the quality of our football, the pitch is very, very difficult, as people can see. But I thought the level and some of our play was so, so good. And yes, just work rate, quality, mentality, really, really professional performance.
Celtic TV: You knew how Dundee United would approach this, and they sat very deep. We spoke about Jota, maybe giving you that kind of game-changing moment, but it was the captain, Callum McGregor, who has stepped up with perhaps his best goal of the season so far, a real individual effort?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, well, all his goals have been absolutely superb this season. I’ve said to him there, that’s like a rollback to when I was first here, because he used to be higher up the pitch, dribble inside, and it was a bit of individual brilliance, really, that gets us on the way. He nearly got a second one, Cal, just coming in off the other side and nearly scored. But no, he was instrumental to everything today and gets us off to a really good start.”
Celtic TV: He served as inspiration for Jota with the second goal. I have to say, when he stepped inside, it almost felt inevitable that he was going to score, such as the confidence he plays with?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it’s really nice. Jeffrey opens up the space for it to go outside, then he makes a really good run that clears the space inside, and then it’s a wonderful finish. Everyone in the stadium has seen his quality before, so it’s really good that he’s getting back to getting that feeling of scoring goals and working hard.”
Celtic TV: Finishing with the third goal, every striker wants to be scoring goals, but that’s a fantastic finish by Adam Idah and he earned it on his work rate today, if nothing else?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, he worked very, very hard, Adam. Greg was unlucky, I thought the goalkeeper made a really good save from his strike. Then the ball comes out, Tony’s there to counter-press the game, the cross goes out and then Adam’s first touch gets away from him a little bit, but his finish was absolutely superb. He really deserved that because he worked ever so hard.”
Celtic TV: Where does that leave you now, going into the midweek? Hopefully, no one has taken any injuries, but is it the sort of little confidence booster again? It’s a clean sheet, it’s three good goals?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think the mentality of this team has been relentless all season. And obviously, after a tough game, and Dundee United coming here and fresh, having not played for a while, I thought the performance level was really good. So, we get back in, recover tomorrow and prepare now. It’s a really exciting game for us on Tuesday and we go in with a good feeling.”
Tues, a free hit.
Hail Hail.