Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership match against Ross County.
It has been a difficult week after Celtic lost 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but the Bhoys have an immediate opportunity to bounce back in style.
Three points are the task on a big Scottish Premiership Sunday that also sees second-placed side Aberdeen take on Hearts and Rangers host St Johnstone.
Celtic kick it all off with the lunchtime kick-off in Dingwall, broadcast live on Sky Sports. As part of his match media duties, Brendan Rodgers spoke to the broadcaster about a variety of issues surrounding the champions.
Brendan Rodgers wins manager of the month
Rodgers was awarded with the manager of the month award in September and was asked about the current direction of his team, responding: “The path we’ve been on as a team and as a club has been really, really good. In September, the performances were really exciting. We want to continue with that. It was a good month for us.
“Over the course of the last seven months, the team have been building towards what we want to look like as a football team. None more so than over the course of pre-season and the beginning of the season. There’s real optimism in how we’re working and playing. It’s been exciting, we’re scoring goals and have been strong defensively.
“Consistency is always the challenge, especially at the top clubs. Every team we play will want to raise their game that extra percentage.
“What this team have shown, we saw it last year, and we’ll see it this year, this is a really resilient team. This is a team that can lose games but have a great resilience in there. That’s why the team and the culture is based around winning. We don’t dwell on defeats or poor performances, we analyse and move on.”
Celtic boss addresses Dortmund result
Rodgers was then asked about what he’s looked at in the wake of the European disappointment against Dortmund.
The Celtic boss replied: “That’s a prime example. When the competition and the stakes are high, you have to expect defeat sometimes. If you don’t, you’re a dreamer. If you dream, you don’t have a long career in management.
“You know when you play against the Champions League finalists you might lose the game. The goals we conceded, especially conceding five in the first half, clearly are disappointing.
“If you analyse that – you have two penalties that are a bit soft, you have three strikes, two of them were fantastic strikes, and the other takes a deflection. Before you know it, you have conceded five goals from five opportunities in the game.
“I was really proud of the players in the second half. The courage they showed, the passion they showed to keep going and keep fighting.
“It’s one of those sore ones that you can, and have to take, at this level. The idea is to get over the setback which is what I’ve done all my career. And then look to bounce back to a better level.”
Brendan Rodgers asked about tactical criticism
Sky Sports reporter Luke Shanley then asked the manager about the outcry surrounding his tactics and approach in these away European matches.
Rodgers was defiant, stating: “I’ve no reaction. People get paid to criticise and be a critic, it’s absolutely fine.
“Our idea going into the game wasn’t to be open and expansive and make big problems for ourselves. We’re not naive. When we see the goals mixed in with what we could have done better with the ball. We got spooked a little bit. These things happen.
“I don’t dwell on it. It’s something all your life and your career, you’ll have setbacks. The idea is to get them to bounce back and have that ability to learn from it. It’s a chance to grow.
“We get the chance to show resilience and get back to what we had been doing, which is playing brilliant football. Judge us in the Champions League in January when we’ve played our games.”
Celtic’s upcoming test against Ross County
On the trip to the Highlands to face Don Cowie’s outfit, Rodgers added: “I’m looking forward to that. Don Cowie has his team very well organised. They play direct, up to the striker and then play their football from there.
“Young Ronan Hale has come in from Northern Ireland and scored three goals in seven games, so he’s doing really well. When we go there we always expect a tough game and this is no different.”
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