Celtic duo have just shown up Brendan Rodgers after League Cup semi-final win over Rangers

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Celtic have looked and played like a different team since Brendan Rodgers’ exit last week.

It has been pretty clear to everyone that Rodgers has been unhappy with the way Celtic have gone about things in 2025.

The Celtic Park faithful have agreed with those grumblings; that’s why there have been constant protests against the board, and that will continue to be the case.

But that shouldn’t hide away from why Celtic have looked abject in recent months, including dropped points away at Rangers, at home to Hibernian, losing to Dundee, and getting outclassed by Hearts.

Yet, within a week, Martin O’Neill has transformed Celtic; there is a feel-good factor around the place, the mood and body language of the players is more positive, and the performances have been far better.

That was proven when Celtic booted Rangers out of the League Cup semi-final on Sunday at Hampden, as Callum Osmand and Auston Trusty have left Rodgers with egg on his face.

• READ MORE: Martin O’Neill explains why he is in London the day after Celtic beat Rangers at Hampden

Auston Trusty’s performances after Brendan Rodgers’ exit

Before Rodgers left, he opted to start Dane Murray over Trusty against Hearts, despite the American being in the matchday squad.

That proved to be costly, and given how Trusty has performed against Falkirk, especially his Man of the Match display against Rangers, you have to question why.

Yes, the former Sheffield United man has been injured this season, but even when he was available, it was mainly appearances from the bench.

And then you have Callum Osmand…

But perhaps the one piece of criticism Rodgers can’t shy away from is Osmand.

All season long, Celtic have looked a shadow of themselves going forward. Struggled again and again.

You even had Rodgers comparing the Celtic team to Honda Civics, yet, in the cameo appearances Osmand has made under O’Neill, the 19-year-old has looked and played like a Ferrari waiting to be handed his driving licence.

Not only did Osmand never play under Rodgers, but he hardly made the bench, and now his first two matches in competitive football, including scoring in a League Cup semi-final against Rangers, have shown up the departed Celtic coach.