Celtic

Danny Rohl has ‘big respect’ for interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill

Danny Rohl says he has ‘big respect’ for interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill ahead of the huge league cup semi-final clash this weekend. It’s been a chaotic October for both sets of the Old Firm as Rangers sacked Russell Martin at the start of the month, and Brendan Rodgers stunningly quit Celtic this week. Parkhead legend O’Neill returned to the club after 20  years and is now in charge on a short term basis as the Hoops look for Rodgers’ successor. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s showdown at Hampden Park, the Light Blues’ head coach paid tribute to O’Neill and his managerial career. “Big respect to such a coaching career. I think this is always great as a manager when you work so long in this business and you are successful. “I’m just at the beginning of my career. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point and from this year. “But the good thing is we start at 0-0, different generations, and let’s see what we can bring with our teams in this game.” This will be the 36-year-old’s first taste of the Old Firm derby and he can’t wait to experience the intense atmosphere of the occasion. “Growing up, it was, of course, a world-famous game. In general, I think when you see such games on the TV then you always enjoy it because there’s always action, drama, intensity, goals, tight games, fighting spirit on the pitch. It’ll be a good one. “I can remember when Hansi Flick took over, our second game was at home to Borussia Dortmund – we won 4-0. “I think this is why we love this game, to be part of such a game. It’s all or nothing. You win, you come in the final, you lose, you’re out. I think everything is on for a great game. “At the moment, the positive energy is really back, the belief is there. “We could keep a great week with three wins in a row. I think it would be fantastic. “I can give my players a lot of ideas, but they’re really listening and they bring it with a good character on the pitch and I think it’s fantastic to see. But even we know it’s just two steps forward, not more.”

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Celtic Freeze Falkirk on Martin O’Neill’s Return

Celtic got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over Falkirk as Martin O’Neill returned to the Parkhead side’s dugout for the first time since 2005. A first half Johnny Kenny double followed by goals from summer signings Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti helped the defending champions cut the the gap on Hearts to six points, after the league leaders drew 2-2 away to St. Mirren. It was only the second time Martin O’Neill had came up against Falkirk in his career, with the other encounter in 2004 seeing Celtic score double the number scored tonight, in an 8-1 cup victory. There was fan protests outside Celtic Park’s main stand prior the match versus the club’s board, but once on-field matters commenced, Celtic looked in total control. Benjamin Nygren missed a one-on-one earlier in the first half, but the Swede’s second strike of the game half an hour in rebounded off the post and striker Johnny Kenny was first to react, firing home to score his second goal of the season. Falkirk’s best chance at getting back into the game was just a moment after the opener. Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi’s strike took a slight deflection from the edge of the box, but it was well held by Kasper Schmeichel. But just ten minutes after his first, there would be a second for Kenny. Anthony Ralston looped a ball in from deep, and Nygren again made it easy for the Irish international as his headed pass was nodded into the Falkirk goal by Celtic’s number 24 to put them two goals ahead going into the break. Tired of being provider, Nygren got his own name on the scoresheet. Marcelo Sarrachi’s tame volley was pushed out by former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain, but only went as far as Celtic’s top scorer who bagged his fifth league goal of the campaign having been at heart of the other two goals previously. The home side made it four with 18 minutes to play. Substitute Luke McCowan from deep in his own half spotted the run of Sebastian Tounekti, who beat a sliding Liam Henderson to the ball and scored his first goal at Celtic Park since joining from Swedish side Hammarby on deadline day. Martin O’Neill marks his first managerial gig in six years with a result, with him and Shaun Maloney in the hot seat until the Celtic hierarchy find Brendan Rodgers’ replacement after the Northern Irishman’s shock resignation on Monday night. The result is Celtic’s first win in three league contests, having lost to Dundee and Hearts consecutively before tonight. The Hoops face Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday, before travelling to FC Midytlland of Denmark for Thursday evening Europa League action. As for Falkirk, tonight marks their first defeat in four having not tasted defeat since the back end of September. They host a Kilmarnock side on Saturday who fell to a 1-0 home defeat tonight to Aberdeen. CELTIC: Schmeichel 5, Ralston 5, Trusty 6, Scales 6, Sarrachi 7, Nygren 6 (McCowan 66′ 4), Engels 5, McGregor 6 (Hatate 76′ 1), Forrest 7 (Balikwisha 61′ 2), Kenny 8 (Maeda 66′ 3), Tounekti 7 (Osmand 76′ 2) FALKIRK: Bain 3, Adams 6, Allan 4, Henderson 4, Lissah 4 (Hart 62′ 2), Miller 5 (Agyeman 62′ 2), Tait 4, Arfield 4, Spencer 5 (Cartwright 68′ 1), Ross 4 (Williams 46′ 4), Samuel-Ogunsuyi 4 (Graham 62′ 2)

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“The Facts Did Not Match His Public Narrative” – Dermot Desmond Scathing Rodgers Statement

Dermot Desmond says that former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers’ comments have ‘contributed to a toxic atmosphere’ around Celtic amid the Northern Irishman’s resignation. The Hoops minority shareholder released a statement to Celtic supporter’s after the shock announcement in the wake of Celtic’s 3-1 defeat yesterday away to Hearts. A breakdown in relationship between Rodgers and the boardroom has led to a number of fan protests this season, but Desmond has appeared to reserve the blame for the outgoing manager. The full statement reads: “I want to acknowledge Brendan’s contribution across his two spells as Manager, during which he helped deliver success that forms part of the club’s modern history. However, I must also express my deep disappointment at the way the past several months have unfolded. “When we brought Brendan back to Celtic two years ago, it was done with complete trust and belief in his ability to lead the club into a new era of sustained success. Unfortunately, his conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected that trust. “In June, both Michael Nicholson and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club’s full backing and long-term commitment to him. He said he would need to think about it and revert. Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue. “We met with Brendan regularly, including in December last year and at the start of the summer, with regular dialogue in between, to discuss and agree our collective strategy, priorities, and approach. Every player signed and every player sold during his tenure was done so with Brendan’s full knowledge, approval, and endorsement. Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false. “His later public statements about transfers and club operations came entirely out of the blue. At no point prior to those remarks had he raised any such concerns with me, Michael, or any member of the Board or executive team. In reality, he was given final say over all football matters and was consistently backed in the recruitment process — including record investment in players he personally identified and approved. “When his comments were made publicly, I sought to address them directly. Brendan and I met for over three hours at his home in Scotland to discuss the issue. Despite ample opportunity, he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative. “Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving. They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board. Some of the abuse directed at them, and at their families, has been entirely unwarranted and unacceptable. “Every member of the Board and executive team is deeply passionate about Celtic and acts at all times with professionalism, integrity, and a shared desire for success. What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual’s desire for self-preservation at the expense of others. “Celtic’s structure — where the manager oversees football, the Chief Executive manages operations, and the Board provides oversight — has served the club with great success for more than two decades. We all share the same ambition: to ensure Celtic’s continued success domestically and to achieve further progress in Europe. Every pound generated by the club is reinvested towards those goals and the continuous improvement of Celtic Football Club. “Celtic is greater than any one person. Our focus now is on restoring harmony, strengthening the squad, and continuing to build a club worthy of its values, traditions, and supporters.” Rodgers will be temporarily replaced by former Celtic gaffer Martin O’Neill and former player Shaun Maloney as the hunt for a replacement gets underway.

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Brendan Rodgers Resigns As Celtic Manager

Brendan Rodgers has resigned from his position as Celtic manager. The Northern Irishman leaves under a cloud despite winning four trophies in a second spell, with a rocky relationship with the club’s hierarchy being well documented. A club statement said: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation. It has been accepted by the Club and Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect. “The Club appreciates Brendan’s contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the Club. “Brendan leaves Celtic with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success for the Club and we wish him further success in the future. “The process to appoint a new permanent manager is underway and the Club will update supporters further on this as soon as possible. “We are pleased that during this interim period former Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill and former Celtic player, Shaun Maloney have agreed to take charge of Celtic first-team matters. Further details will be confirmed shortly.” Celtic host Falkirk on Wednesday night, before facing Rangers at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final on Sunday.

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“The Players Always Have To Take Responsibility” – Callum McGregor

Celtic captain Callum McGregor says him and his teammates have to take accountability for Celtic’s poor start to the Premiership season. The defending champions fell eight points behind Hearts yesterday, after the league leaders beat them 3-1 at Tynecastle. And McGregor knows that the only way to claw at this gap is if the playing staff performing. “I said it last week, but we are too easy to play against” the 32 year-old said after the loss. “The players always have to take responsibility, I’ve been saying it since day one. “Even with the distraction of the board, and the signings, and everything else, I’ve been the one saying ‘no’, the players have to take responsibility. The only guys that can fix it is the guys on the pitch.” The former Scotland international believes that that the squad is capable of turning things around, but need to show their quality more regularly. “I think they [the players] understand the situation that we are in, of course we are, but we have to turn that into action on the pitch. “I see it on Thursday night, we were excellent, but we have to back it up three days later, and then another three days later we’ve got to do the same. “So that’s where we are. We’re showing flashes, but not on a consistent enough basis.” McGregor, who scored Celtic’s goal on Sunday, dismissed the idea that uproar of a lack of transfer activity could be negatively impacting the current crop of players. “Being at a big club like Celtic, there’s always speculation of who’s coming in. Even the guys who did well last year, you’ve got to keep doing well, the guys who maybe didn’t do so well, you’ve got to up your level. “There’s always a clamour to sign players at big clubs, and then it’s up to the players to react to that. Hopefully overtime, you push each other to new levels.” The Celtic academy product was quick to defend fellow graduates Colby Donovan and Dane Murray, who both made starts due to injured absentees. Murray scored an own goal, and gave away the penalty for Hearts’ third. “The young boys are exempt in this because they need help as well. So when young guys get chucked into the team, it’s the responsibility of the other players to protect them, because they need time to develop, time to get better, they need time to make mistakes. “I’ve been there as a young player when I’ve made mistakes. You need your senior players around you to pick you back up, and they need time to learn and develop into what could be really good Celtic players.” The midfielder recognised Hearts at title challengers, as the maroon side aim to break a 40 year duopoly on the league from the Glasgow big two. “We have to beat everyone if we’re going to win the league. “Yes they [Hearts] were good today, they’re eight points clear of us and now we are the team that are chasing, so if they are the guys at the top then of course we have to try and chase them.” Celtic now turn their attention to Falkirk at Celtic Park on Wednesday night, before a blockbuster Premier Sports Cup semi-final on Sunday against rangers at Hampden.

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Hearts Go Eight Clear After Victory Over Celtic

Hearts 3-1 Celtic Murray (O.G) (8′), McGregor (12′) Kyziridis (51′) Shankland (pen) (54′) Hearts title challenge gained some serious credibility after a statement 3-1 victory over current holders Celtic at Tynecastle. An early opener courtesy of a Dane Murray own goal was quickly cancelled out by Callum McGregor, before a second half strike from Alexandros Kyziridis and a Lawrence Shankland penalty sparked chants of ‘we shall not be moved’ around Gorgie. The result moves the maroon side of Edinburgh eight points clear of Celtic, with a chance to make it eleven on Saturday, provided both sides win midweek, due to Celtic playing in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final. The home side got off to a flyer eight minutes in when Dane Murray booted the ball into his own goal. Alexandros Kyziridis’s ball was headed back across for Claudio Braga, who forced a terrific save from Kasper Schmeichel. The rebound was followed up on by Hearts captain Shankland, going as far as young Murray, who’s botched clearance nearly burst the net. Despite it being early, there was a sense that a Hearts opener was looming. The champions responded in typical fashion however just four minutes later, with skipper Callum McGregor finding the bottom right corner from close range. The Celtic midfielder was picked out by Tunisian winger Kieran Tierney, before rolling home the equaliser. Hearts were nearly put back in front just after the half hour mark by another own goal from another Celtic academy graduate. Dane Murray done well to initially defend a Kyziridis ball in, but his clearance ricocheted off Colby Donovan and came agonisingly close to nestling into the bottom right corner. Benjamin Nygren had Celtic’s best opportunity to take the lead 38 minutes in. Reo Hatate done well to intercept a loose ball from Hearts ‘keeper Alexander Schwolow, but he more than made up for it when he denied the Swede inside the six-yard box with an incredible save at the end of a Hoops move.  Tynecastle would soon be rocking just five minutes after the restart. Kyziridis picked the ball up from the left wing, and was afforded too much room as he rifled one into Schmeichel’s bottom left corner from the edge of the box to net his fifth goal of the season. And the Hearts had barely had a chance to catch their breath back before referee Steven McLean awarded the Jambos a spot kick. Dane Murray’s clumsy challenge on Claudio Braga gave Lawrence Shankland the chance to mark his 150th Hearts appearance with a goal, and the striker made no mistake in finding the bottom left corner despite Schmeichel guessing the correct way. Hearts had a massive chance to put the cherry on top with 15 minutes to go. Shankland sparked a counter-attack after beating Liam Scales and finding Claudio Braga. The Portuguese winger put Ague through, but the Brazilian put his effort straight at Schmeichel on his Tynecastle debut. Hearts remain the only side unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership, and have beaten both sides of Glasgow already. Their title challenge goes full steam ahead towards Paisley as they take on St. Mirren for the first time since the Buddies dumped them out the Premier Sports Cup on Wednesday. As for Celtic, they will be eager to get back to winning ways when they host Falkirk also for the first time since eliminating them from the League Cup before gearing up for the same competition’s semi-final with Rangers on Sunday. HEARTS: Schwolow 5, Kingsley 6 (McCart 90’ 1), Findlay 7, Halkett 6, McEntee 5 (Steinwender 70’2), Kyziridis 8 (Ague 70’ 1), Baningime 7, Devlin 6, Milne 6, Shankland 6 (Kabangu 90’ 1), Braga 6 (Magnusson 80’1) CELTIC: Schmeichel 4, Donovan 5, Murray 3, Scales 4, Tierney 5, Engels 4, McGregor 6, Hatate 4 (Forrest 59’ 2), Nygren 4 (McCowan 70’2), Kenny 3 (Yamada 59’2), Tounekti 6 (Balikwisha 59’ 2)

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Celtic Back To Winning Ways After Stumping Sturm Graz

Celtic 2-1 Sturm Graz Horvat (15′) Scales (61′) Nygren (64′) Celtic got their first European win of the season as they came from behind to defeat Austrian champions Sturm Graz 2-1 at Celtic Park. Tomi Horvat scored a screamer to close the opening quarter of an hour but two corner routines three minutes apart created goals for Liam Scales and Benjamin Nygren to move the Hoops into the top 24 of the league phase. It was a more characteristic performance from the Parkhead club who looked eager to right the wrongs of Sunday when they were deservedly beaten by Dundee. The hosts were stung in the opening two minutes when Kelechi Iheanacho fell to the ground with a muscle injury, and had to be replaced by Johnny Kenny. The Irishman chased down a long ball from a returning Alistair Johnston down the right flank on the 14th minute, and fashioned an opportunity for himself when he knicked the ball from Dimitri Lavalee. The angle was never favourable for the striker however, as his shot flashed wide. Just one minute later, Sturm Graz midfielder Horvat picked up the ball around 30 yards and unleashed a rocket with his left boot that landed into the top left corner of Kasper Schmeichel’s goal. The Dane came under a lot of criticism last time out for Celtic in the Europa League, but there was no stopping the Slovenian’s strike this time. Celtic were forced into another change just 25 minutes in, with the comeback of Alistair Johnston brought to devastatingly early end. The Canadian international looked gutted heading up the tunnel with a suspected hamstring injury, having not played due to a similar issue since Celtic’s home leg draw with Kairat Almaty in August. The Bhoys nearly levelled the scoring immediately after the restart. Reo Hatate broke forward and his left-footed half volley going over the bar woke the home crowd up. But the equaliser would come after a period of sustained pressure on the 61st minute. A short corner found its way inside the box to Colby Donovan, who’s low ball was met by Liam Scales and the Irishman pushed the ball into the bottom left corner with a deft finish. And Celtic put themselves ahead with another corner three minutes later. Arne Engels whipped a ball into the six yard box, and Benjamin Nygren rose highest to nod home. There was a roar of relief from the Swede, having missed four big chances leading up this. The visitors were reduced to ten men on the 70th minute. Tochi Chukwuani was beaten to the ball in a 50/50 by Callum McGregor and the Danish midfielder’s studs caught the Celtic captain too high on the shin for referee Juan Martinez’s liking. The result moves Celtic into the playoff section of the Europa League in 21st. They have three domestic bouts to hurdle, including the small matters of a trip to Tynecastle and Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers, before their next European fixture away to Europa League leaders FC Midtjylland of Denmark.   CELTIC: Schmeichel 5, Johnston 3 (Donovan 26′ 7), Carter-Vickers 6, Scales 7, Tierney 7, Hatate 5, Engels 8, McGregor 6, Nygren 6, Tounekti (Balikwisha 78′ 2) 6, Iheanacho 1 (Kenny 2′ 5) STURM GRAZ: Bignetti 5, Oermann 4 (Mitchell 46′ 4), Aiwu 6, Lavalee 5, Karic 5, Chukwuani 3, Stankovic 6, Horvat 7 (Kayombo 82′ 1), Rozga 5 (Hodl 59′ 3), Malone 6 (Jatta 59’4)

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Brendan Rodgers Stands By ‘Honda Civic’ Comments

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has doubled down on comparing the Celtic squad with a Honda Civic in his comments that came after a surprise 2-0 defeat to Dundee on Sunday. The Northern Irishman’s comments were in reference to the star-power he has not had adequately replaced in talisman Kyogo Furuhashi, German winger Nicolas Kühn, and Irishman Adam Idah, who left in January and July respectively for a reported combined fee of £36m. Rodgers said that “there’s no way you’ll go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say, ‘I want you to drive it like a Ferrari, it’s not going to happen” following Sunday’s defeat which seen him turn to the likes of Johnny Kenny and James Forrest to save try the game from the bench. But the Celtic gaffer has no regrets and stands by what he said. “It [Honda Civic comment] was based around the speed in our team. Clearly, it’s not the same as what we had last season.” Rodgers told the media. “I’m pretty sure both of those cars go at a different speed, so that was the reference to that. It’s something that I said at the time, and I said it because I felt it, so I’ve got no regrets, no. “I’m not really worried [about offending the players], to be honest. You can’t please everyone and nobody’s trying to do that now. The players know that I’m with them, I’ve always been with them.” Celtic defender Liam Scales says that he hadn’t even caught wind of the comments, and dismissed the possibility of them upsetting the Hoops dressing room. “Look, I didn’t even really know about those comments. I don’t look at football outside of the team, and I didn’t know about them until I was told they might be brought up in this press conference. “So that’s how much it was thought about by me, at least. I don’t know about others in the dressing room, but for me, it’s not going to affect me, and it wasn’t a talking point among the players. “We know it was a disappointing result, and if that’s a way to motivate people to do better, then that’s the only way I could really look at it.” Celtic host Austrian side Sturm Graz tomorrow night in Europa League action, who defeated a Russell Martin Rangers side 2-1 on match day two, before travelling to Tynecastle this Sunday to take on high-flying Hearts.  

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“We’re Too Easy To Play Against” – Callum McGregor

Celtic captain Callum McGregor claims that his side don’t make things difficult for their opposition anymore, following a shock 2-0 defeat away to Dundee on Sunday. The midfielder and his manager Brendan Rodgers have came under increased scrutiny as the Hoops failed to score in a game for the sixth time this season. But the retired Scotland international insists the focus from him and his teammates is fully on how they can turn things around. “You only win trophies if you’re together and you’re ready to fight, and you’re ready to run, and you minimise the amount of days like this” said McGregor. “Because at this moment in time we’re too easy to play against.” When asked if the squad were taking notice of Hearts, McGregor recognised their start to the campaign but is relishing the Bhoy’s trip to Tynecastle on Sunday. “I think we have enough to be getting on with ourselves. “Obviously Hearts are winning games but the great thing is we get to play them next week, obviously they’ll be full of confidence. “But like I said for us, we’ve so much work to be done and so much that we have to look at ourselves internally first before we can even lift our head and look at anyone else.” The Celtic skipper also stressed how important the job of the players is to bring back a sense of unity at the club. “I get the supporters are frustrated, they’re angry, and again a lot of that comes down to the fact that the performances aren’t there. If we can affect the performances then hopefully the noise will get less. “I think there’s a lot of disharmony, which can make it difficult for a club like this that is so used to winning. “It’s great when you are winning games. From the outside it looks easy, it’s not easy. The reason why we win so many games is because we work so hard. “If you come off the boil slightly, and you’re not quite there and that disharmony is there, then it can be a difficult place to play football. Our job in the changing room is to try and make the team as strong as it possibly can be.” Celtic travel to Tynecastle to take on Hearts this Sunday, as the title holders look to cut the Jambos five point lead at the top.

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“You Can’t Drive a Honda Civic Like a Ferrari” – Brendan Rodgers

Celtic failed to trouble a Dundee side who sat joint bottom of the league before defeating the champions 2-0 today at Den’s Park. A header from Clark Robertson and an own-goal from Cameron Carter Vickers gave Steven Pressley’s side much needed relief following a torrid 4-0 loss away to Aberdeen before the international break. It marks the first domestic defeat for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season, but there is a growing discontent amongst the Parkhead club’s fanbase surrounding levels shown in performances. “We had enough of the ball, and were arriving into the areas often enough but failed show that bit of quality that allows you to get the goals that you need and that’s where we’ve suffered up until now.” Rodgers said post-match. “I need to find the solutions in order for us to get scoring goals again. “It’s been a struggle from the beginning of the season. However, we have to stay together and we have to find a way to get the results and the confidence in the team. We’ve lost a lot of speed and a lot of goals out of the team, but that doesn’t matter.” When asked if the headlines between the fans and the board were becoming a distraction, Rodgers was not keen to use this as an excuse: “It [fan protest] was right at the beginning of the game and we’ve still got a long, long way to go after that. It doesn’t stop you giving the ball away, it doesn’t stop you losing a goal on the counter attack, it doesn’t stop you getting blocked off on the pitch. “It’s been simmering really, all summer and into the beginning of the season. However, we can only focus on the pitch, and we can be better on the pitch – for sure. “I’m not going to tell the supporters what to do. they’re frustrated, of course, they are the heart of this club.” The Northern Irishman also faced questions around how much responsibility he accepted and admitted that there is pressure on him also: “When you’re at a club like Celtic, it’s [pressure] always on you. It was on me when I first came back, we got through that. It’ll be on us now when we are not at our best level, and we will get through this as well. “For the new guys coming in, it’s a real eye-opener to the pressures of being at a huge club and you never know that until you’re in and you go through the demands of what is required.” The Celtic manager was also questioned if this was the most worried he had ever been across both his spells in charge, and says it was clear in the summer that reinforcement was necessary: “I think the challenge from the summer now leading into here where we lost a lot of firepower and goals from the team. “There’s no way you go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and as you take off say I want you to drive like a Ferrari – its not going to happen. “It was clear in the summer but its really the past now. There’s nothing we can do about it. We had the opportunities to do what we needed to do, didn’t happen, so now it’s finding ways.” Rodgers made it clear his focus on Celtic is on ‘the now’, as his side prepare to host Sturm Graz in Europa League action, before travelling to league leaders Hearts a week today.

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