WE WILL ONLY GET BETTER

BRENDAN RODGERS last night sent out the chilling warning to the rest of the Premiership that Celtic can only get better in the second half of the season. The Scottish champions are currently 69 matches unbeaten domestically and last month’s Betfred Cup win saw the Northern Irishman become the first Parkhead boss since the legendary Jock Stein to claim four successive pieces of Scottish silverware.

Despite sustaining heavy beatings in the Champions League from Paris SaintGermain and Bayern Munich, Celtic also managed to pip Anderlecht to secure Europa League football in the New Year.

It all adds up to a fine first half of the campaign but Rodgers has vowed Celtic will emerge from the winter break as an even more formidable force.

‘We will be better,’ nodded Rodgers, who hopes for developments on signing targets like RB Leipzig defender Marvin Compper before the New Year.

‘We have put so much into the first half of the season but when we get to the winter break we will hit the reset button.

‘The winter break is the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s not about relaxing. We will give the players a week with their families to get a breather from football and recover.

‘Then we head to Dubai and work very hard over in the warm weather. We also hope to have new signings in and that will allow us to bond and get together on the training pitch.

‘In the second half of the campaign we will also have more coaching and working time, so I have no doubt we will be better.

‘I need to commend the players for what they have done so far. Their desire and will to keep winning games and bouncing back from knocks was there to see again in midweek.

‘Last weekend we were 2-0 up at Hibs and playing very well. Then emotion sets in and we draw 2-2. But did we learn from it?

‘Yes, we were 1-0 up in midweek against Hamilton — a good side who have won at Ibrox and Easter Road — then it goes back to 1-1. That was a test but we came through it to win the game.’

For all their achievements, the Scottish champions have started looking like their hectic run of fixtures is catching up with them. Most notably in tossing away that 2-0 lead at Easter Road last Sunday.

A gruelling schedule means the team’s last free midweek was back in September.

The visit of Rangers on December 30 before the winter shutdown will be the team’s 38th match of the season — equal to a full league campaign.

For Rodgers, games coming thick and fast is merely the price of success. And while the Northern Irishman can understand a degree of fatigue setting in, he won’t ever permit signs of laziness.

‘There’s a long way to go once we get to January, but it has been a tough run of games and I have nothing but admiration for the players,’ he said.

‘It’s not just what they’ve done in 69 games. It’s what they have done every day in training. And it’s what we do to shape that mentality because if they feel they can go lazy in training, they may feel they can go lazy in games.

‘They might not have been always at their best but they have always given their best and their qualities have shone through.

‘Yes, we have played a lot of games but if we are going to be successful, that’s what happens. We qualified for the Champions League and that means midweek football.

‘We got to the Betfred Cup final and won it, so we then have to catch up on games.

‘It’s just a sign that the team is succeeding and it shows why I need to think about the management of the players, physically.

‘But we are not looking beyond to the Partick or Dundee games. It’s about winning our next match.’

Celtic’s next match is tomorrow against Hearts at a venue that has already proved memorable in the short time Rodgers has been in Scotland.

‘My first Scottish Premiership game was at Tynecastle,’ said Rodgers, who confirmed Tom Rogic (below) will be out until the new year with a knee injury. ‘It was exciting and thankfully we came out on top, winning 2-1.

‘The second time I was there last April, we put in a brilliant performance and won 5-0. We won the title that day and it epitomised the progress of the squad.

‘But even that day we had to work hard, defend well and attack. There is a rivalry that goes back many years and Tynecastle has always been a tough place for Celtic to go.’

Earlier this season, Rodgers was critical of the decision-makers at Tynecastle after the sacking of Ian Cathro. But he believes moving Craig Levein from director of football to manager was a shrewd appointment.

And he has been impressed with the former Scotland boss blooding teenage talent like 16-year-old midfielder Harry Cochrane.

‘I don’t know Craig Levein at all but it was a sensible appointment by Hearts to put him in charge,’ said Rodgers.

‘When Ian left there would have been a host of managers and coaches wanting that job.

‘But there probably wouldn’t have been too many better than Craig. ‘He’s had success in Scotland as a manager before, he’s worked in England, and he’s been an international manager. ‘You have to applaud Craig and his staff for having the faith to put the young players in. ‘I saw the young lad Cochrane play against Linfield in a pre-season friendly and he looked good. I also saw him in the derby game against Hibs. ‘You’d never expose a young player if you didn’t think he was good enough and those kids have done well. ‘Hearts have now had a couple of good results and it’s vital they are back at Tynecastle now. It doesn’t matter how beautiful Murrayfield is, it’s still not home.’