A delighted Brendan Rodgers spoke to Celtic View editor Paul Cuddihy on Celtic TV after yesterday 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon. Here’s what was said…
Celtic TV: The result does not really reflect the performance in total but is that as fluid a display as you have seen in the attacking third from your team so far this season?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes. We are getting better each game and I thought the players were excellent. The scoreline did not show the quality in the final third that we had. I was really pleased as we were really creative and we speeded up our game in the right moments. It was a combination of that little finishing touch and their keeper made some fantastic saves and it could have been one or two more goals but overall I was really pleased.”
Celtic TV: As a manager you can see the fruits of what goes on in the training ground through that display and you can see someone like Reo Hatate clicking into gear. How did you rate his performance?
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Brendan Rodgers: “Reo needed a performance like that. With him it is all about intensity and workrate. When he works to that level and intensity he is a fantastic player. When he is slow and his pressing is slow he does not have the same dynamism. He was outstanding today and he scored a great goal and he could have had at least one more. He was very creative and his pressing was good and his quality was good and he was outstanding.”
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Celtic TV: It was a thoroughly deserved victory, Greg Taylor had a complaint in the build up to the Kilmarnock goal and VAR played a part in quite a bit of the game today. Are you satisfied that overall the reflection and the decisions were fair?
Brendan Rodgers: “No. I think Kilmarnock’s goal is clear when you see it. I think the referee needs a bit of help as he didn’t quite see it and his back was to the play by the time he has swivelled around on it. He has got a fourth official and someone on VAR who is seeing that. When Greg moves the guy has contact with him all the way until he throws him to the floor. It is a clear free-kick. The play goes on and it goes into the area where he is out of position. We were disappointed with that decision.”
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Celtic TV: How pleased were you with the mentality shown by the squad coming off a sore defeat in midweek but they were impressive with how they responded?
Brendan Rodgers: “The mental strength of the team is very good. We have had a run of tough games where we have had two Champions League games and shown that we are close to being a really good side at that level and competitive at that level. You still have to come off the back of that disappointment and show your competitive spirit and the players were very good. There are areas we can improve on like making better decisions in the final third in order to score more goals as we have to see those passes but that apart it was a very good performance.”
The Celtic Star presents a night with John Hartson and Stephen McManus at the Kerrydale on Thursday 19 October…
There’s no Celtic action for a few weeks due the latest international break, but you can still come along to Celtic Park on Thursday 19 October – on the anniversary of Hampden in the Sun, Celtic 7 Rangers 1…to join The Celtic Star team live in the Kerrydale with special guests John Hartson and Stephen McManus as we launch Matt Corr’s new book ‘Majic, Stan and the King of Japan’ which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season at Celtic and we’ll have the trophies Celtic won that season there too!
There’s live music from the wonderful Boolavogue and many more Celtic guests coming along which we’ll start to announce tomorrow. Tickets are selling fast so get yours now, just click on the image below and we’ll see you in the Kerrydale. it’s going to be some night and a great Celtic fix during the international break!
Join The Celtic Star at the Kerrydale on Thursday 19 October when we celebrate the launch of Matt Corr’s new book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season as Celtic manager. We’ll have the trophies that the Celtic team won that season plus well delighted welcome our special guests John Hartson and Stephen McManus, both stars of that Celtic team.
And we have other guests to be announced later this week plus there’s live music from the wonderful Boolavogue. Tickets are selling fast for what is sure to be a wonderful night of Celtic conversation and music and you can order below…
