CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers has turned his attention away from the Valencia matches and is now fully focused on what is perhaps the most important match for Celtic this week – the trip to Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon to play on that plastic pitch which has not been a happy hunting ground for Celtic on our last few visits.
The Zombies have pinpointed this weekend as being crucial for them to catch up on the ground they lost when Killie came from behind to beat them 2-1 last month.
However they are assuming that they’ll turn over St Johnstone tomorrow at Ibrox – and that’s maybe them counting their chickens, especially with their problems with injuries and suspensions for their strikers.
Even if they do get the points against St Johnstone, a Celtic win at Rugby Park will be a huge blow to the Zombies who all had a string in their steps today after Valencia’s win last night.
The Celtic manager is looking to his side’s domestic form on 2019 for reasons to be optimistic about playing Kilmarnock and reckons that his side can get the win – if they cut out the mistakes that we all saw last night.
“Kilmarnock is always a tough game for us,” Brendan said to the media.
“We have to recover from Thursday, which we will do, and then expect a tough game.
“The players will be ready. The energy we have had after the break has been good. The team has been playing quickly, creating opportunities and taking the chances.
“Unbeaten, defensively strong, we haven’t made many mistakes, and as a team, we have pressed the game very well. So we will need to be that at Kilmarnock.
“They will have had a full week to prepare and they will bring that energy into the game, so we need to be able to match that and then to make no mistakes.”
Brendan was unhappy at the number of mistakes that his side made last night as you’ll hear listening to this clip from the post match press conference from last night.
WATCH! @CelticFC made too many mistakes against @valenciacf_en says Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers#CELVCF #EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/8tp5sG963q
— PLZ Soccer (@PLZSoccer) February 15, 2019
Meanwhile if you are heading down to Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon, Celtic’s SLO John Paul Taylor has given this piece of advice: “As Sunday’s match is complete sell out for Celtic fans, Kilmarnock FC have advised there is no space for large flags and banners, fans are requested not to bring these as they cannot be accommodated. Gates open at 14:45 and Coach Parking is at Holmquarry Rd and Burnside Street,” he stated.
As Sun's match is complete sell out for Celtic fans @KilmarnockFC have advised there is no space for large flags and banners, fans are requested not to bring these as they cannot be accommodated. Gates open at 14:45 and Coach Parking is at Holmquarry Rd and Burnside St???????? pic.twitter.com/AAqTLIRT0O
— Celtic FC SLO (@CelticFCSLO) February 15, 2019
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‘That’s what the manager believes in and how he wants us to play,’ Celtic Star on Brendan’s tactics
Sandman’s Definitive Ra(n)tings – Celtic v Bal-En-Thee-A Euro Knockout Stages
‘A totally sub-standard performance from Celtic in Europe – again,’ David Potter
Disco Lights and a CEO Bonus but where’s the investment in the team?
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