Celtic got the better of Queen’s Park in a ten goal ‘thriller’ at The City Stadium last night, with the Hoops running out 6-4 winners in the second pre-season friendly before the squad heads to the States for the three match mini-tour against a much higher level of opposition.

Queen s Park v Celtic -. Kyogo and Danny Wilson battle for the ball during the pre-season friendly match at The City Stadium on Wednesday July 10, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Here’s what Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had to say in his post-match interview with Celtic TV, when asked if he was happy with his side’s showing.

“Yeah, some bits of it. It is about fitness but there were lots of elements of the first-half that I wasn’t happy with, especially with some of the guys that should understand the game better. Our pressing was nowhere near the level of what I would expect, and that’s what I said at half-time.

Queen s Park v Celtic – Matt O Riley during the pre-season friendly match at The City Stadium, Wednesday July 10, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

“The first 15 minutes we pressed the game better than what we did in all of the 45 minutes. And then that continued in the second half. You expect some little mistakes and things can happen in the game but overall, you see that we still have a long, long way to go in the pressing side of our game. But also, there were some pleasing moments in the game as well.

“None more so than the second-half in young Francis Tuley coming into the game. I’ve only seen him in the last few days and you can see he’s a football player. He does some wonderful things with the ball and has a natural instinct to get into the box. I was really pleased for him in that final half hour. But overall, another good exercise and another step up for us from the other night.”

Queen s Park v Celtic – Brendan Rodgers ahead of the pre-season friendly match at The City Stadium, Wednesday July 10, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Brendan Rodgers on the match: “The supporters got the money’s worth, so they did. They came and saw a good game and goals. So, yes, I think it was another step up for us. So it was nice. I think some of the attack and play in the first half was good. The pressing was nowhere near what I would want us to be and there were just a couple of wee things that were sort of wrong within the structure and we weren’t quite where we should be positionally. Even when the changes come in, it’s much more aggressive and then that’s when we play our football.”

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Queen s Park v Celtic – Kyogo during the pre-season friendly match at The City Stadium, Wednesday July 10, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Brendan Rodgers on Kyogo’s performance: “He’s looking top. He’s been very bright, I’ve got to say. He’s worked very, very hard. He’s come back, he’s had a nice break. He’s worked really hard in the training. He’s looked so bright in the games that we’ve had. Tonight, you see the sharpness and brightness. So it’s really nice for him. It’s only pre-season, but as I said to the young players before the game, this is a big opportunity for you as a senior player, a young player, to go and make a good start.”

Queen s Park v Celtic – Brendan Rodgers ahead of the pre-season friendly match at The City Stadium, Wednesday July 10, 2024. Andrew Milligan

Brendan Rodgers on Kyogo’s first class attitude: “He’s hit four goals in two games, which is great. I say to the players, and he typified that – for me, they’re not pre-season friendlies. They never are. It’s a pre-season test. When you’re a Celtic player, you walk out at a big club, it’s never a friendly, because the other team will always raise the game. So, see them as a test. Kyogo, you can see he’s pressing, he’s running, he’s moving. Everything was really, really good. So, he started very, very bright.”