Brendan Rodgers has had to deal with lots of ongoings at Celtic over the last few weeks.
A frustrating transfer window ended with an incomplete deadline day, and a tidal wave of criticism for the club coming from the support.
To supporters, it was clear that the manager hadn’t been backed in the window. Players such as Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah were allowed to leave the team without being replaced.
Rodgers was also briefed against in the media, condemning the ‘cowardly action’ of the club leak last week. This was all in the build-up to last week’s match against Kilmarnock.
The game was a much-needed positive for the Celtic boss, being won by a late Kelechi Iheanacho penalty. Rodgers will hope that this is the beginning of a positive run.
Brendan Rodgers slaps down Celtic crisis talk
The circumstances of the Kilmarnock win made it a joyous one for supporters, despite the in-stadium protest which took place prior to the match.
READ MORE: Celtic can’t give Brendan Rodgers another £30 million says Charlie Mulgrew
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup clash against Partick Thistle, Rodgers used this as a reason for positivity.
He said: “I see this noise about ‘Celtic in crisis,’ and that sort of thing. It absolutely is not. The team is coming together again domestically, if you look how we’ve started the season.
We’re not at our best, of course, but everything that has happened is all natural with the changes that we’ve had, and players adapting and coming in late into our structure.
“but whilst that’s happening, our duty and our idea is to make sure we still win games, and the players are absolutely doing that, and you see that togetherness.
“Of course, ultimately you want that within every sector of the club, but I think that supporters won’t forget that they’re there to support their team, and give that encouragement to the team – and I think you sensed that at the end of the game.”
Celtic looking to restart treble quest against Partick Thistle
Celtic’s quest for a treble ended in agonising fashion last year with a penalty shootout defeat to Aberdeen.
The result left Celtic with a reminder of just how hard it is to complete the domestic clean sweep – you have to be perfect in every cup match.
Rodgers has been scarred by this round of the league cup before, exiting in the first season of his second spell after a shock defeat to Kilmarnock.
So despite Thistle being a Championship opposition, he knows that this round can be a banana skin.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
