DUNDEE v CELTIC
GORDON PARKS
BRENDAN RODGERS has warned the Premiership also-rans his Hoops have an answer for no matter what is thrown at them.
The Celtic boss insists only a selfinflicted wound brought a 69-game unbeaten domestic run to a halt at Hearts before business as usual resumed with wins over Partick and Aberdeen.
It was the comprehensive manner of a 4-0 defeat at Tynecastle that triggered suggestions a formula had finally been found to bring the Hoops to heel.
High-pressing tactics designed to squeeze the champions out of their usual style of playing out from the back were supposed to have been the eureka moment from the men in maroon.
But Rodgers delivered an ominous warning they will return a stronger force after the winter break with Saturday’s 3-0 win over second-placed Dons another sign his team can cope with anything that comes their way.
Celtic will aim to make it three in a row at Dundee today and the 44-yearold said: “We have faced everything.
“When we lost to Hearts it was because Hearts deserved to win the game. There was loads of stuff – the pitch was awful – but the thing was it was us.
“We weren’t very good on the day either collectively or individually. But over the course of 71 games now we have faced everything.
“There have been teams such as Aberdeen who want to press us, who are a good team, Rangers have tried to press us, teams have sat deep, we’ve been to astroturf pitches and teams have pressed us on that.
“We haven’t been good in some games and we’ve had very good games so over this run that (Hearts) wasn’t the first time a team have tried to press us. We’ve had it a number of times. That day we just couldn’t find the solution.
“It is a tribute to these players of how they got over that disappointment. That’s the job of the manager and coaching staff to tell them we go again.
“Aberdeen pressed well which is why they got a result like the win over Hibs.
“But we score most of our goals from 60 to 90 minutes because physically and technically the team is in a good condition. We always have to improve and we will do in the second half of the season.”
There have also been accusations of a defensive vulnerability.
But Rodgers is adamant his rearguard’s display against Hearts was just one bump in the road given they haven’t been breached in two games since.
He said: “How we defend is very important for us. In the main we defend well. Obviously there was the Hearts game which really was a bit of a one-off.
“But we’ve had a particularly impressive two games since then and particularly the Aberdeen game.
“There was a big question on us physically what with Aberdeen having a clear week to prepare and us having a game. But we got through it and were really strong in the second half.
“There are two more games to go then the players get their deserved break.”
After Tayside comes a weekend clash with Rangers. However, Rodgers insists he won’t be making any alterations to his team at Dens with the Old Firm meeting in mind. He said: “I don’t plan specifically for Rangers, it is Dundee first. We limit the changes we make but also have to look at the dynamic of the team because of how we play. I put a big demand on them intensity wise so we will look at that.
“But it’s no disrespect to Dundee – it’s purely about managing the squad. I have no worries about the players not being focused on Dundee. We haven’t even mentioned Rangers to be fair. We’ll talk about them after the Dundee game.”
Rodgers recalled Moussa Dembele to his starting line-up against the Dons.
And despite him failing to get a goal the Northern Irishman was happy with his contribution as Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths were kept in reserve.
He said: “Moussa worked really hard against Aberdeen but that is what he’s asked to do. It doesn’t worry me about how many goals the strikers get.
“It’s no use to me if I’ve got one who scores 50 goals and the rest of the team doesn’t function. I said that when I first came in.
“If you play in this team you have to be able to press from the front, you must be able to read the game defensively.
“Once you do that then you’ll get an opportunity to play. If you don’t there will be someone else getting that opportunity. I have three good strikers who understand that now and young Edouard coming in has opened up the eyes of Moussa and Leigh even more.
“It’s about the team and the three guys know that. A striker will always want goals and games. But for me it doesn’t matter. We have built a team here to score from every area on the field but there is a demand on that central striker. Modern-day football is not just about just standing there and scoring goals – you have to participate.
“But the players know that. There is no change from when we first came in.”
There was a lack of tempo to Celtic’s first-half play against a Dons side who could count themselves unfortunate to have been behind at the break.
But Rodgers managed to re-energise his players and added: “That’s my job, it’s what they pay me for here.
“What we have said is to be a top team you have to do more than just match the other team’s energy.
“You have to play the game with a technical and tactical intelligence in order to then play the game better.”
Celtic enjoy an eight-point lead at the top and while not as big as this time last season Rodgers believes it still adds up to a sensational first half of this campaign.
He said: “I think we were 19 points in front going into the break last year.
“I am not going to cry if we’re not but if we get into a position where we have a double-digit lead then the players would deserve a huge amount of credit. Whatever the lead is, to play the number of games we have and to do so at such an intensity, it’s been really phenomenal.”