Celtic didn’t believe in themselves for Kennedy
Derby loss blamed on team being too passive due to lack of confidence
JOHN KENNEDY says too many Celtic players did not believe they could beat Rangers as they crashed out of the Scottish Cup at Ibrox.
The 2-0 defeat ends Celtic’s hopes of lifting silverware this season, and Kennedy thinks an insipid first-half showing was to blame for yet another desperately disappointing afternoon for his men.
During that first 45 minutes, Kennedy saw a lack of belief in his team, and he says that mentality is unacceptable for anyone who pulls on the green and white jersey.
“I’m disappointed,” Kennedy said. “It’ a competition we wanted to keep a hold of in terms of another trophy.
“We were confident going into the game but that didn’t come through in the game, especially in the first half and our approach to the game. I thought we were a bit too passive in the first half in terms of how we pressed the game and passing the buck a little bit and not taking responsibility.
“We addressed that a bit at half time but you then come out and you have given yourself a lot to do after conceding two goals. We came out much more aggressive and we created big chances.
“If we had taken one of them, at 2-1 you have given yourself a chance, but we didn’t manage to do that again. We just have to take it on the chin. It will sting a bit and we have to deal with that.
“It’s part of Celtic. Whether it’s good, bad or indifferent you have to have a good mentality. They have been a really good squad, I have worked with them for a long time. They are
a great bunch, I have no issues with them at all.
“Even today, in terms of being cautious in the first half, it wasn’t down to a bad attitude or not wanting to run and work, we were just too tentative.”
Kennedy cited a lack of confidence in his players after the pillorying they have received this season as a contributory factor in their blunt attacking edge, particularly when it came to striker Odsonne Edouard, who saw a late penalty saved by Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
“We had a lot of shots, probably five good opportunities you want to take,” he said. “The difference in the game is Rangers had a couple of half chances, one breaks to them and the other one is a flash across goal and they take them.
“We have not been in that form consistently enough to have that full belief.
“You saw the penalty today, even Stephen Welsh first half, Moi [Elyounoussi] has had a chance, Odsonne had a chance, for a game like this that is more than enough to go and take care of the game. And then Rangers score two and that puts you on the back foot.”
Kennedy has challenged his players to represent the club in the proper manner for the remainder of the season despite having nothing tangible left to play for as a unit, with several individuals playing for their own futures.
The interim manager thinks there will be upheaval in the squad as they look to put this season behind them.
“I can’t put a number on it but in terms of the squad we need to add to that,” he said. “We have lost a couple of players, a couple might be coming out of contract, these decisions will be made in the summer. There will certainly be changes, maybe a little more than we normally do.”