Brendan Rodgers "happy" with Celtic's performance

Brendan Rodgers insists he was “happy” with Celtic’s performance despite their disappointing 0-0 draw with Hibernian at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon…

Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic shakes hands with Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers as he is substituted for Benjamin Nygren. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, – 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock

Celtic endured another frustrating outcome as their 0-0 draw with David Gray’s side highlighted Rodgers’ men ongoing struggles with finding the back of the net.

With six games into the Scottish Premiership season, Hearts, Motherwell, Dundee United, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Livingston [equal]have all scored more goals than the current Scottish champions.

Despite dictating play, applying sustained pressure, and repeatedly testing visiting keeper Raphael Sallinger, Celtic ultimately fell short with yet another disappointing result.

For Celtic, it was their fifth draw in eight games – four of which have ended goalless, though manager Brendan Rodgers insisted this display should be judged differently from previous shortcomings.

“I was happy with the performance,” the Celtic boss said via BBC Sport. “I think every metric in the game we were dominant. I thought today our football was really good, we went through the pitch well but we just lacked that killer instinct in the box. But I also think they defended the box really well so we need to credit Hibs for that.”

Chris Cadden of Hibernian saves a header from Johnny Kenny of Celtic in time added on after 90 minutes. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock

“We had good chances, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. When the ball broke through we counter-pressed really well and we dealt well with the set pieces but it was just that final touch in the box we were lacking. We just couldn’t find the back of the net and when we did it was offside.”

Rodgers added: “The players are gaining confidence. I thought Marcelo [Saracchi] was excellent and played the ball really well, Sebastian [Tounekti] is excellent in 1v1s. I can’t complain performance wise it was just that little bit in the final third that was lacking. We’ll take the positives from the performance into Thursday.”

Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic misses the ball in front of the Hibernian goal. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, , Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

“My focus is on the group of players that are here who are full of endeavour,” he said. “Whatever we did or didn’t get is irrelevant now. We have to make the most of the players that are here and like I said I thought performance wise it was really good today we just couldn’t score.”

“It’s a long season. It’s very, very early but we want to win every game we play and that’s the nature of being at Celtic. I think the supporters can see today that the team did everything and you’ve got to give credit to the opposition who defended for their lives and kept the clean sheet.”

Sandman also named Marcelo Saracchi as his Man of the Match in his Definitive Ratings which are up now on The Celtic Star.

Conor Spence

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