OWN IT BLOWN IT
Brendan’s first Hampden win was a marker for his philosophy but can Fir Park journeymen stop sequel? Celt s should be too good in final as PSG were too good for them but this is Well’s chance to be legends
There’s a big poster on the wall of Brendan Rodgers’ office at Lennoxtown.
He commissioned it specially for the Hampden dressing-room ahead of last year’s Betfred Cup Final.
After they won, the Hoops boss had it signed by the players and framed. His first trophy with Celtic. First of plenty. Its message was simple: OWN THE PITCH. Which they did. Every square inch and blade of grass. As well as the opposition on it. That 3- 0 hosing of Aberdeen last November, that poster, was a marker for the manager’s era and his entire philosophy.
The only surprise about his refusal to compromise his football ideals in games like the one in Paris the other night is that anyone is still surprised by it.
What happened in that 7-1 Champions League defeat by PSG was less to do with the way he wants his team to play and more about the players trying to execute it.
Could they have been set up tighter, made life harder? Sure.
But even if the manager chooses not to, you can defend with commitment and fervour without parking the bus.
PSG had more than 60 per cent possession but Celtic only got close enough to them often enough to commit seven fouls. They had two blocks the entire game. And it was something said about Dorus De Vries when they lost seven to Barca – a keeper has to make saves in games like that. You get the feeling we’re seeing the death throes of Craig Gordon’s unassailable reign as their No.1 keeper along with the blindingly obvious need for change in central defence. Having said all of that, there’s no point in holding Celtic up to an unachievable standard – and right now that’s what PSG are. They’re looking more and more like the winners-in-waiting of this competition. Another interesting point to consider in the elite-loving Rich- Get-Richer Cup is that Celtic are the only one of the ‘Champions Route’ teams to even win a game so far in the groups. The question for today though is, are Celtic still the unachievable standard for everyone back home? Does the dreamer in you look at the odds of 11/1 a couple of bookies are offering for a Motherwell win this afternoon and think it looks l ike irresistible value for a team in ripe form? Or does the pragmatist in you tell you not to be so daft? That even at 28/ 1 on Wednesday night, Celtic were a pointless bet and that this is the same? Celtic should be too good for Well this afternoon in the way that PSG were too good for them on Wednesday. They should own the pitch in the same way they were owned by Neymar, Rabiot, Cavani & Co. The difference is while Rodgers is trying to establish a template for future success at a higher level, Stephen Robinson isn’t bothered about style. He just wants substance and the truth is he only needs to worry about for 90 minutes at a time. Rodgers has obviously been able to combine both – 64 games unbeaten in Scotland tells you that clearly enough. His in- game management and adjustments are also peerless in our environment on the odd occasion anyone is actually giving them some bother. But this game is the be-all-and-end-all for Well. It’s an occasion for any diddy club like the ones the rest of us support to create legends who’ll adorn walls forever.
And because of that they’ll go after Celtic today like a dog eating beetroot.
You have to love the fact, for example, that they’ve shunned the idea of having cup final suits made. Pointless tradition.
They’ll turn up in their work clothes, same as they do every other week.
These are guys who understand the opportunity in front of them. The majority of their CVs are less a Who’s Who of English football – more a Who’s That.
They’ve played for the likes of Tamworth, Swindon Supermarine, Tiverton Town, Forest Green Rovers – some of them as far down the ladder as the eighth tier. They are the journeyman’s journeymen.
And as of rights, they should be out of their depth on an occasion like this.
Then again, that was said about them in the semi against Rangers – and they rose to it. Same as they did burying Aberdeen in their quarter-final clash at Fir Park. They’ve scored 20 goals in seven games in the competition to get this far, conceded only four.
They have a genuine matchwinner in Louis Moult and a supporting cast who’ll hound down second balls and use their physicality unashamedly to their best advantage.
The Steelmen can also change things up tactically, like they did last week at Pittodrie. But this isn’t a day for overcomplicating the message .
They would do well to watch Ross County’s first half hour against Celtic up in Dingwall last weekend.
The Staggies pressed them a mile up the park and made the Hoops defenders and midfielders look as uncomfortable as they have been all season.
The trouble with that is keeping it up for 90 minutes. But of the three times they’ll play Celtic in the next seven days, this is the only one that truly matters. They’ll recover fine if they lose the two in the league.
This one, though? There should be nothing left of them when the whistle goes but puddles. That will be the message in their dressing room, bet your boots on it.
What Rodgers’ message will be isn’t up for debate either. The only question is whether he’ll need another frame for it in the morning. If they do their job then Own The Pitch II: The Sequel is probably inevitable.
There’s no point holding Celtic up to an unachievable standard – and that’s what PSG are