All of Brendan Rodgers’ media statements prior to Celtic’s Scottish Premiership matchup with Dundee
Would you mind starting with the fact that your remarks from the weekend’s match have received a lot of attention? What is your opinion of the circumstances and the statements made?
I’ll take care of it. It’s evident that I’ve been aware of the recent backlash. Regretfully, I feel that our culture these days is searching for something controversial or something to insult others about. Since I’ve been up here, I believe that you guys and every other journalist or reporter realise that relationships have always been the foundation of my existence. I’ve always made an effort to be kind, respectful, and to give people my time. That won’t ever alter. Of course, in the event that there is that small amount, large amount, or whatever was present. I feel compelled to talk about it. I work with people in my life, whether they are athletes I wish to help improve or regular people
Jane wasn’t insulted when I chatted with her. She has asked me awkward questions in the past, and we have laughed about it. Every week, we get to see each other. We get along well, just like I do with the majority of individuals in my life, socially and professionally. The irony of it is that I told my players Jessica Watson’s story not too long ago.
At the age of sixteen, she set out on a solo sailing trip across the globe. I found the documentary “True Spirit” to be incredibly motivational. I explained to the players how a young lady like that, along with everything she had been through, could serve as an example to them. More than anything, it saddened me because I’m not that kind of person. That’s not me at all. That isn’t my physical makeup. I feel sorry for society these days because everyone seems to be trying to find a way to undermine you. It isn’t polite.
Looking at the reaction to the weekend’s game. How have the players been? There seems to have been a reaction. There seems to be that fire and a determination within them to motor and kick on. How have the last couple of days been?
We ultimately came out on top with a great victory. Given that the game has now exceeded 90 minutes, I say that. We didn’t play well in the first half of the match since our team isn’t known for getting balls in behind and down the side. We ought to be able to halt those attacks if we don’t counter-press it, but we didn’t. At halftime, it all came down to maintaining composure and simply getting back into the game.
I believed that there was nothing in behind in the second half, especially once Cameron Carter-Vickers entered the game. The two of them collaborated incredibly well, which allowed you to continue attacking. We scored a few excellent goals, and you could see how cohesive our team is. We have achieved yet another significant victory. We are now preparing for our upcoming game.
Alistair Johnston said that half-time was crucial and that people who had to speak had their say. There was a general sense of the players saying they had to go out and play and not over-complicate things. Was that another message that has to get out there that these players are talented and they don’t need to overdo things?
It is what it has to be, listen. You do overthink things, and I believe that this may contribute to the issue. It is possible to overthink or plan too much. You want it, and it’s fantastic that the players are assuming that responsibility. There hasn’t been exactly the amount of awareness and accountability that you need. Reacting is what this group has excelled at this season. Although it is unpleasant to have to start from the back, sometimes it is necessary since you will never have your own way. The players’ response was excellent. We scored some really fantastic goals, both in terms of quality and variety.
Every game is a cup final just now isn’t it? This is another huge match, isn’t it?
Each of them is a major game. There are now 11 games left. It may sound cliché, but I believe you should only concentrate on one game at a time. anything we need to do is concentrate on the performance above anything else. The desire to succeed and win is shared by all. It all starts with holding that notion. You may have noticed something about this team during the weekend. They thought they could go and obtain the outcome, which fortunately we did.
How is the squad looking injury-wise? There is a suggestion that Maik Nawrocki is injured. Is that true?
Indeed. I don’t think Nawrocki will be gone for too long, but he will be out for a while because he felt his hamstring throughout the game.
Is Cameron Carter-Vickers ready to come back in from the start or will he need managing?
Carter-Vickers will require supervision, but he is prepared to begin if necessary. When he enters the game on the weekends, you can tell the difference. He’s a great operator; we simply need to be considerate of his time and minutes.
There have been reports of Liel Abada and MLS sides interested in him. Are there any advances on that?
No. There’s no news on that front. He finds it challenging to be in the same scenario as before. We’ll check to see if that can be resolved.
There are also suggestions that Abada was willing to rip up his contract and move on. Is that something that the club have talked about or considered at all?
I haven’t heard that. No.
How do you assess Dundee ahead of this game and the work Tony Docherty has done at the club?
I think Tony’s done great. It’s his first time in (as manager). I know we have played well in the two games against them, especially in the second game up there. I think he has done fantastic and got the team organised really well. They’ve been flexible in the systems in the style they have played. They started with a back five and more recently they have been adapting with a back four or a a back five. He’s done very well. He’s got some very good players and we again will have to be at the top of our game to get a result.
There’s been talk on social media about the work you have done with Adam Idah. Can you elaborate on the work you have been doing with Idah?
Not really. It’s our job. It’s what we do. We train players. We work with them. The coaches do a fantastic job. He’s a very talented player. The job of us as coaches and the manager is to squeeze everything we can out of him. I said before he came in he’s got talent. There is no doubt about that. We just try to maximise that talent. You would be here too long if we were to talk about everything we do for the players.
How important is using the squad and bringing on players to make an impact when you are down in games?
It is very important, especially when you get booed for taking off a defender and putting on an attacker. That seemed strange but I think the players realise that you have got 90-plus minutes and you are talking about 95 or 100-minute games now. Your bench is very important. To have that ability and to have the depth to bring players on to make an impact was very important.
How does that make you feel when you get booed for a decision like that at the end of the game? Did you win the game from behind?
It doesn’t really matter to me. It’s more for the player coming on and for the team. It is a negative reaction which I don’t quite understand. We were at 1-1 in the game and you take off a defensive midfield player and put on an attacking player. An attacking player who has scored goals this season and you get booed. It just seems a little strange. Thankfully, the players’ mentality on the pitch was superb and they kept going and kept fighting. All the great work that they did, especially in the second half, in terms of tiring the opponent out led to a couple of goals at the end.
Is there a need from the stands to understand that the sense of anxiety can be allowed to translate to the players on the pitch as it maybe has in the past?
It’s not normally for Celtic, I think it’s in general at any club. If that feeling rolls down off the stands onto the pitch and it is negative then what do you expect? You will get players that will have nervousness and the game will look different. Whereas if they have that positive reaction and have that support, it’s like life, isn’t it? If you get that support and you get that feeling that people are behind you and I mean everyone then you will have a greater chance to succeed.
Can I ask you about the last few weeks where you have maybe played well in the first half and it has dropped off and vice-versa? How do you deal with that as a manager? Do you think about your team selections more differently than usual? Do you look at impact players from the bench? How do you cope when it’s been like that for the last four or five games?
To be fair, it has been like that for bits of the season. I think it’s also recognising that it is not going to be the starting eleven. I see reports about people saying we don’t know the best team or we don’t know the best structure. We know clearly what the structure is. It is not about the best team – that is the team that finishes the game – you play so many games so you are looking for an energy within the game and you can’t possibly keep that for 90 minutes unless you make those changes. For specific games, we have played 4-2-3-1 recently as I felt then we would play with the extra midfield player. We did it at the weekend to play against the line of five to make runs and get in behind. If we needed to change the game then we can do and that’s exactly what we did. So, each game tactically is different. It is not about finding your best eleven because the best eleven normally won’t finish the game. You have to adapt within the game. There is no doubt that you need to have that ruthless mentality and we would want that for longer periods, of course. We are just continuing to analyse and look at that and see where we can improve and be better. If at the end of the game we have won the game then that’s what is most important as long as we are performing well.
Can I ask you about James Forrest? He has not contributed much recently. Is he fit? You have tried a few wingers and is he maybe someone that can contribute and is he close to being available?
James is available. He has been training. He has been an amazing servant to this club. I am sure over the last few games he might well have a part to play in it. For me, looking at the team we need to have intensity and that relentless mentality and there is no doubting James’s ability. That is never in question. As a winger in terms of ability, he is the best one we have. There is no question of that. How we ask the game to be played and the intensity of it, the consistent running as you get older becomes a challenge, I am pretty sure there will be a point over these next 11 games where James will be required. He is training so well and keeping himself ready. He is a top professional and looks after himself and his body every day and if he is required to play then he will do.
