BEWARE OF THESE WOUNDED CELTS
Rodgers knows his players can produce robust reaction after another Euro setback
IF there was almost a sense of déjà vu about the defensive lapses that condemned Celtic to their latest European defeat, Brendan Rodgers now hopes there will be something similarly familiar about his side’s response.
The two first-half goals leaked in Leipzig on Thursday evening were an obvious, deflating disappointment to the Parkhead manager. Moments of haphazard sloppiness again undermined any ambition of a positive result and meant Celtic have now conceded 38 times in 19 continental away matches during his tenure.
So far, so gloomy. Rodgers, though, has no fears about a cloud lingering above the team bus when it makes tomorrow’s trip to Murrayfield.
Anyone predicting that Hearts could feed off a sense of European angst would, he argues, benefit from examining recent history.
Odd as it seems, Celtic have actually lost to foreign opposition a few days prior to every semi-final or final of the League Cup during Rodgers’ three seasons at the helm. In the four previous instances, they have bounced back to record victories that have strengthened the foundations of their domestic dominance.
The 45-year-old expects a similarly robust reaction this time. Arguing that there was encouragement to take from elements of the match in Germany, Rodgers feels Celtic are ready to meet the fascinating challenge presented by Craig Levein’s Premiership leaders.
‘If there’s one thing about this group’s mentality you can never question, it’s how they respond to setbacks,’ he insisted. ‘If you look at my time here, we lost at home to Borussia Monchengladbach in my first season and didn’t play so well, but then we were outstanding against Rangers in the semi-final the following weekend and went through.
‘Then we lost at home to Barcelona immediately before we played Aberdeen in the final and produced one of the best performances since I came. Last year, we didn’t play well away to Bayern Munich (losing 3-0) and had a really tough semi-final against Hibs, which we won 4-2.
‘Before last year’s final, we lost (7-1) away to Paris Saint-Germain but we bounced back to play well and beat Motherwell on the Sunday, so I have no doubts about the mentality of the team.
‘We come away and look at it, but we’ll always look forward to the next game and that’s always served us well. I would expect us to respond and play well this weekend.
‘There were aspects of our performance in Leipzig I was happy with. Obviously, we conceded poor goals but I thought Ryan Christie played well and, just six months ago, Lewis Morgan was playing Championship football.
‘Now he’s out playing against a team from one of the best leagues in the world, one which expects to be competing in the Champions League. He did very well. Young Eboue Kouassi came in and he’s not had too many opportunities.
‘All this stuff about him being a failure — the kid’s not really had a chance. Why? Because Scott Brown has been in the form of his life for the last couple of years and that’s the only reason he hasn’t played.’
Celtic fans may wonder if their team, individually and collectively, are actually learning from the repeated mistakes in Europe. But Rodgers still feels perspective is required.
‘I never get frustrated with the players,’ he added. ‘There are elements that can disappoint, of course, but I am also of the understanding that we were playing against a high-quality team.
‘It is in key moments of the game at that level where you have to be better. Of course I was disappointed at times but I have got to where I have through experience.
‘I left school with no qualifications and my life is based around experience and moving on and trying to get as many good experiences as I can. I never over-analyse it but look forward.
‘That is what I have always tried to do with these guys here. We talk about it briefly after the game, put it to bed today and then look towards Hearts — rather than slaughtering players and making them feel less than what they are.
‘I know that these boys give me everything and sometimes they come up short. That is okay. We will go again and fight for the next game.’
That will take place on Murrayfield’s pitch which will mirror Hampden both in dimensions and grass length. Rodgers expressed satisfaction about how it looked when Celtic trained there on Tuesday — in contrast to his past complaints about Tynecastle. The conditions should be right for expansive football. And Celtic have produced plenty of that in their most recent domestic outings. A 6-0 shellacking of St Johnstone was followed by last weekend’s 4-2 win over a previously soaring Hibernian. Now the task is to clip the wings of the capital’s foremost high-fliers. Defeated by Hearts in August, Rodgers appreciates the doubleTreble winners will be tested.
‘The challenges have always been there for us,’ continued Rodgers. ‘In the time I have been here, there has always been something put up as an obstacle for us.
‘Hibs are a very good football team, an attacking team who play offensive football and are always going to be a threat. Our boys stepped up to that. Hearts in a different way will be a threat, but these are the challenges you accept — and each season they become more difficult.
‘Hearts have made a very good start to the season. Craig has got them working hard and working well.
‘Steven Naismith has been a real catalyst for them, coming in with his experience. I hardly know him at all but I can tell with his work in the Premier League and how he featured there that he looks like a real super professional.
‘He looks really focused on his work and someone who gives his all every day in training. I am sure that influence will have spread to other players.
‘They will be committed to the game but it is on a nice big pitch and that will suit us.
‘However they play, we have to find a way. What’s been really good is that the rhythm and speed is coming back into our play, which is very important.
‘We weren’t creating so much early on but now we’ve started to create more and, when we have, we’ve taken our opportunities. It’s going to be a great occasion.’