What Brendan Rodgers told his Celtic players after ‘outstanding’ dismantling of St Johnstone

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Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a devastating win over St Johnstone at Parkhead.

Celtic destroyed the McDiarmid Park side after a double from Kyogo Furuhashi was complimented by another goal from Nicolas Kuhn and another from substitute, Daizen Maeda as the Hoops hit their 52nd goal of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

Brendan Rodgers named a Celtic side with five changes as the Hoops boss clearly had the Rangers game in mind as he rotated his squad against the bottom-placed team.

Celtic fans needn’t worry about a drop in performance as the Bhoys put on a superb display to end 2024 on high for the Parkhead support.

Brendan Rodgers hails ‘excellent’ Celtic’s possession play vs St Johnstone

Speaking to Celtic TV Rodgers said, “It’s how you would want to finish. I thought from minute one to the 94th minute, we were outstanding in the game.

“Firstly, our pressing and denying St Johnstone space, because I’ve seen them and they like to play and they can give you a problem with the ball.

“But our pressing, we didn’t give away any chances, really, in the in the 18-yard box. And so our pressing from the front middle and the line moving was very, very good.

“I thought with the ball we were we were excellent. We were fast. We made lots of runs, how you want to break the line, created lots of opportunities, maybe didn’t quite finish some of them, but our play and our goals were outstanding and I think the focus of the players was so, so good. So I’m very proud of that performance.”

Brendan Rodgers shares what he told his players after Celtic battered St Johnstone

“I said to the players afterwards I’m very, very proud. Firstly, as the Celtic manager because I think when we look back on the statistics on this season, it really will be a historical season for us in terms of numbers and what we’ve achieved.

“So from that perspective, very, very proud. But as a Celtic supporter, I look and I see what these guys give the team and what they give every day of their life and also the staff all around the club, the team that’s working very closely with the players, everyone.

“It’s been a really, really special season for us. One in three trophies but having that humility and perseverance to want to keep improving. So I think 2024 as a manager, I’m very very proud and really excited by what 2025 can bring.”

This really has been a year to remember for the Celtic fans as they enjoy more success under the Northern Irishman.

With the League Cup in the bag, the Scottish Premiership title looking good and with the Scottish Cup still to kick off, another treble could be on for Celtic with Rodgers at the helm.

With Champions League qualification also still very much on, 2025 looks like it could be as successful as this year as Celtic look relentless in their pursuit of success not just on the pitch but off it as well.