Celtic are a different animal from this time last year after a strong summer transfer window cemented the foundations of a talented squad.
Last term, the Bhoys had a successful campaign and claimed a domestic double under Brendan Rodgers. However, the Irishman would freely admit it took some time to get his message across in a transitional early stage.
That statement rang truer than ever against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park last October. Despite a 3-1 victory, in the end, courtesy of Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and James Forrest, the manager wasn’t impressed by his sides’ first-half display, it is fair to say.
Post-match, Rodgers admitted the performance made him the ‘angriest’ he has ever been in management, a marker of how far the Bhoys fell below his high standards on that day.
Undoubtedly, the reigning Scottish Premiership champions have come a long way since last October. Nevertheless, Callum McGregor isn’t keen for his side to rest on their laurels as they travel to Perth this weekend.
Callum McGregor recalls Brendan Rodgers’ St Johnstone fury
Cited via The Daily Record, McGregor admitted the 3-1 victory last year prompted the ‘angriest’ reaction he’d ever seen from Rodgers, which is not something he plans on witnessing again this weekend.
He stated: “It was certainly the angriest I’ve seen him. I think that’s the statement that everyone kind of clings onto because he’s normally very, very calm under pressure. I think it was just maybe a step too far that day. The pressure of the situation and how the team had been playing up to that point probably played a factor in it as well.
“But you’re in elite-level sport, so you have to take criticism and take the manager’s view on board. If you’re not doing the things that you should as a team, then you have to be told and I’m sure the players want it that way as well.
“Obviously different players probably react differently to your criticism or those moments of red-button panic stations. When you see someone like the manager losing his cool and demanding more, then it makes you want to turn the thing around and get a positive result, which we obviously did on that day.
“I think the response 12 months on is the group are in a really good place and probably better for that action at half-time anyway. It’s another lesson that, if you don’t do your work properly and you don’t do all the small details and earn the right to win, any game can be difficult.”
Brendan Rodgers has instilled a brilliant mentality at Celtic
Elite managers bring a mentality to match when demanding high standards, but that only works if players collectively buy into their vision.
It is safe to say Celtic’s players, coaching staff, and everyone in between are singing from the same hymn sheet at the moment.
In the grand scheme of things, last year’s victory over St Johnstone won’t cross too many people’s minds. However, days like that have forged the mentality we see as fans in the current squad.
With the Bhoys gearing up for a Saturday night clash at McDiarmid Park nearly a year later, the club appear to be in a far better place on the pitch.
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