Sometimes after a comprehensive win like the one against Ross County, some Celtic fans must wonder how Brendan Rodgers inspired a performance like that.
Yesterday’s Celtic Park 5-1 hammering of Ross County was Rodgers’ 71st game in charge since returning to the club last summer, his 240th overall.
So you would think that over those two periods, Rodgers would find it harder to motivate his team and come up with a rousing speech to get more out of his Celtic players, right?
Wrong. Before the Bhoys’ emphatic win over Don Cowie’s Ross County yesterday, Rodgers revealed the instructions he gave to his players that inspired the 45-minute mauling of the Dingwall club.
Brendan Rodgers learns Celtic lessons from Dingwall Ross County win
Speaking before the game, Rodgers was asked how he was asking his players to play because the last time both Celtic and Ross County met was after the 7-1 Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
In that game, Celtic went behind to a Ronan Hale penalty but fought back to win the game late 2-1 as the Hoops struggled to find their rhythm.
So with that game in mind, Rodgers shared the simple instructions he gave to his Celtic players and, my goodness, weren’t they effective?
Rodgers told BBC Radio Scotland, “We have to be faster in our game. Again, the circumstance coming back after a challenging defeat [to Borussia Dortmund], to travel, then going up to Ross County, then, obviously, they defended very, very well, very well organised and kept it tight.
“And we weren’t quick enough in our game until we went one nil behind. So today, I would expect us, and why the changes are there, to bring a more energetic game right from the first whistle. Don’t wait on it.
“Don’t waste time in the game. Let’s play fast, let’s play dynamic and let’s create as many opportunities as we can.”
Brendan Rodgers’ last Celtic speech was spine-tingling
This season alone, Rodgers is unbeaten domestically and has Celtic on the cusp of qualifying from the Champions League group phase for the first time in over a decade.
Whatever he says to his players to get every ounce out of them this season to us at 67 Hail Hail back to this rousing speech the Celtic boss gave just before facing Hearts in the final games of last season’s Scottish Premiership title fight.
Hairs on the back of your neck stuff from Rodgers and if that’s the kind of motivational talk he gives to his players, even if it’s just once per month, it’s little wonder they appear to run through brick walls for the Celtic manager.
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