Rodgers tells fans: My way or sigh way

Brendan Rodgers last night warned Celtic’s fans not to pressure his players into the kick- and- rush game he reckons has held Scottish football back for decades.

The Hoops came within nine minutes of losing their 16-month unbeaten domest ic record yesterday, fighting back to earn a 1-1 draw with St Johnstone.

But the manager was seen getting into it with punters behind his dugout late in the game as they

clamoured for the ball to be launched into the box.

Rodgers, who was seen gesturing to the fans to stay calm, said: “It’s understandable that the supporters want to see the ball in the box but like I’ve said since I came here, the quicker it goes forward, the quicker it comes back.

“One example was when Kieran Tierney probably felt he had to smash it forward and we ended up giving the ball away. I was just signalling to the fans to stay calm. This is football, you have to stay calm under pressure. Not just the players.

“Or you can play Scottish football. Just smash it up the pitch. It hasn’t got you anywhere for 20-odd years.”

Rodgers admitted the 6000-mile round trip to Astana had taken its toll.

He said: “We lacked energy in the first half, we were pretty slow on the ball. But second half they showed their heart, their spirit, their desire to not lose a game.”

Meanwhile Rodgers insisted he was unaware of any problems over the medical of South African stopper Rivaldo Coetzee.

Claims from his homeland yesterday suggested there was an issue with a bone in the defender’s foot.

But Rodgers looked surprised at the news and said: “Okay, I’ll get clarification on that. Tim (WIlliamson, Celtic’s physio) has gone to South Africa, the medical was over the course of this weekend.”

Later last night Ajax Cape Town confirmed the deal was off.