The Celtic Star spoke to Brendan Rodgers at Lennoxtown yesterday afternoon ahead of today’s Scottish Cup match against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park…

Brendan Rodgers, having had a few days to think about it, yesterday made some valid points about the way the match at Dens Park panned out on Tuesday night and on reflection as a support we might actually marvel at the sheer desire of the players to get something out of a match that was heading to defeat before Nicolas Kuhn won that late penalty and Arne Engels made absolutely no mistake hammering the ball into the back of the Dundee net.

Disproportionate amount of criticism
There was a disproportionate amount of criticism from the media and the within support with emotions running high as Celtic conceded three goals for the third time in a month.
The Celtic Star was the only fan media outlet to attend yesterday’s pre-match media conferences at Lennoxtown and both Brendan Rodgers – who did a brilliant job of telling us Kieran Tierney was coming in this window without saying anything at all about Kieran Tierney coming in this window – and Kasper Schmeichel were able to provide perspective of where Celtic are and how maybe the second half at dens Park was done to the volume of matches that the team has played in recent weeks.

READ THIS…Celtic v Kilmarnock – Team news, referee details, KO time & where to watch

“Listen, we have to accept criticism but if you look at the bigger picture of what the players are coming off, I think there’s also respect in that there comes a point in a season where any team, no matter how good a season you’re having, or no matter how bad a season you’re having, you’ll hit a little bit of a wall,” Brendan explained.
‘You’re going to hit a little wall’
“It’s natural. It doesn’t matter how good you’ve been playing or not, you’re going to hit a little wall. And I felt that probably on Tuesday, on that seventh game in 20 days, was maybe that point.
“We have to accept the criticism, whether we like it or not. When you draw a game or lose a game, it’ll sting. But for us, it’s all part of being at a big club. You have to accept it, whether you agree with it or not. We have to deal with that and then move on to our next game. And that’s what our idea is,” Brendan Rodgers said.
READ THIS…“Kilmarnock always difficult to play against. They’re well-organised, well-motivated,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan accepted our point that with three upcoming home matches across three competitions the team has a chance to achieve some real momentum and with a run of home wins our season will look very much like a massive, memorable and successful one in the making.
‘The players have done really, really well’
“The players have done really, really well. So we now have a little point where we have that extra day of recovery going into Kilmarnock and then we don’t play until Wednesday.
“That allows us to virtually reset again and come out of what was a really, really, really tight, busy, hard schedule. From a physical perspective and a mental perspective, we’ll be ready. And if we have to go with team on a Saturday, then same team on a Wednesday, it won’t be a problem for us.”

The success in the Scottish Cup including last season is set aside as Rodgers prefers to look to the target of having to win it this season. That and barring an almighty collapse in the league, would deliver a 9th treble, breaking yet more records along the way.
‘We’re not defending it – we have to win it’
“We’re not defending it – we have to win it. And for that, we want to go in and attack the game and play to the level that we know we can. We’ve won a trophy, we’ve got two more to aim for, and of course it’s the next game.
“Our focus is very much on looking to get it off to a good start in the competition, one that this club is synonymous with. The final is an incredible occasion. It always comes on the back of a really long, arduous season with a lot of work.

“But as a game, it’s a great climax to the season. And obviously, of course, if you’ve won it, like we did last season against a great rival, then it makes it extra special. If you can get to the final and win it, then it can be a great end to your season,” Brendan said.
Rodgers has a great respect for Derek McInnes rating him highly for the work that he has done at both Aberdeen and Kilmarnock and will accordingly be well aware of the threat that today’s opponents will pose at Celtic Park.
‘It’s a really tough game against them’
“He’s a really good manager who’s got a lot of experience. And especially up here, he knows what it takes to win games. His teams are always difficult to play against.
“They’re well-organised, well-motivated. They work very hard. It’s a really tough game against them. Obviously, we played earlier in the season as well at home and played well and had a good scoreline. But it’s a cup game. So, we have to be ready to play against them.”

I agree, the champions have played 10 games in 34 days….. W7 D2 L1
HH