Brendan Rodgers spoke to Sky Sports Scotland after his team’s 3-0 victory over Livingston today and was very pleased with not only the result, but the all-round display. It’s always a difficult affair away from home but playing in West Lothian on that plastic pitch presents a particularly nichè challenge whenever we roll into town.
The game was made even harder when the Hoops went down to ten-men after Joe Hart clattered into Livi’s Mo Sangare. It was a huge shock and the players had to regroup and change tact with their set-up but they went from strength to strength even with a man less and Rodgers was delighted with this aspect of the game this afternoon.
Surprisingly it was Joe Hart’s first ever red card in the professional game during his career. The manager admitted that the ball took a bit of a dodgy bounce before it got to Joe and by that point in time he was already fully committed to the tackle and he had nowhere to go. On another day, Rodgers suggested the Englishman might have been saved as the ball would have just run through, but it was not to be and we suffered as a result.
He also praised the phenomenal Daizen Maeda who’s pressing and closing down of the opposition was like that of two men on that field at the Toni Macaroni Arena. The Japanese international does come in for some flak at times due to his lack of composure and failing to lift his head before shooting or crossing; however, today he was sublime and worth the special mention by his gaffer who was over the moon that he got his goal too.
Watch Brendan’s reaction to that comprehensive Celtic performance below…
🗣️ “It’s difficult for Joe [Hart], sometimes that ball will bounce and skid through… Peak Celtic, for me, is still a way off but that’ll come as players return”
Brendan Rodgers reflects on Celtic’s 3-0 win over Livingston and insists the best is yet to come 👇 pic.twitter.com/woewj1YAeO
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 23, 2023
Paul Gillespie
