SAPPY NEW YEAR
Bren: My lads are drained and need rest
He described 2017 as the greatest year he has known in football.
It didn’t stop Brendan Rodgers being grateful it was over at two o’clock yesterday afternoon.
In a game he rightly described as frantic and lacking quality, and with a result he rightly described as fair, the Celtic manager caught only a fleeting glimpse of the best of his side.
But after nine games in 29 days in December, and 38 overall since August, he thinks it’s the prefect time for his history makers to power down and reboot in January.
In a game they could have won in the first half yesterday, and just as easily lost in the second, Rodgers preserved his unbeaten status against their city rivals.
But asked if it was time for a rest, he said: “Very much so. It’s obvious in terms of the number of games we’ve played and everything that goes into it. “Up here you virtually have back to back seasons so there is no real rest.
“Similar to this time last year in terms of the performances in December, we are maybe a wee bit tired.
“Even though we got the victories in them they maybe weren’t spectacular.
“Credit to the players though because I have seen it many times over the years where you can maybe lose that one 1- 0.
“Not take your chances and then your opponent gets a goal and all of a sudden you are on a disappointment. But the resilience of the players and the resolve they showed, they have done really well.
“If you can’t score then you must make sure you don’t lose. That is our fourth clean sheet in a row now, after our game when we conceded four.
“In the first half we were the better team without too many moments of quality. In the second we huffed and puffed a bit.
“In the first 20 minutes they came out and had some opportunities. I thought towards the end our physicality could come into it and get us a goal but it didn’t happen. “It was probably a fair result in the end. “In the second half Rangers had a couple of chances, one really good one with Morelos, but the game lacked quality. It was a wee bit frantic. Lots of effort, lots of commitment but we just lacked that wee bit of quality in the final third.”
Rodgers has a decent plea in mitigation of an unexpected result to end 2017. A Treble, Champions League qualification and a 69-game unbeaten domestic run.
He said: “There will always be critics but it’s not something I worry about and I will ensure the players don’t either.
“Like I say you are playing your 38th competitive game, your ninth in the month.
“That is a real taxing period for the players mentally and physically and we showed a different side today. OK, we weren’t quite as bright but it is all natural. I’d expect that.
“We want to put away our chances which maybe gives us a different feel and motivation in the game but if you can’t win it then don’t lose.”
Asked about his call to start Moussa Dembele ahead of Leigh Griffiths, a decision which rarely looked like it paid off, he was circumspect.
Rodgers said: “It’s very much about the team. I’m not worried about the individuals.”
The Hoops boss will take a bit of time to reflect on what he describes as an “iconic” year before he turns on full thrusters again after the January break.
But he insists there will be few things he’ll appreciate more than the happiness he knows his team’ s achievements have brought.
He said: “Whatever I do going forward I know it will be hard to beat as the most enjoyable year I’ve ever had in football.
“From the first day to the last, it has been an iconic year. You create the legend in terms of how you perform but I’ll never truly appreciate it until I’m long gone.
“My biggest pleasure is seeing happiness in people though. People will talk at New Year about their big moments.
“I have two things that spring to mind. One is just seeing the happiness of the people when we’ve played well in games.
“But the biggest is probably an old lady, Patsy, who is in her 70s. She stands outside our hotel for every game we play.
“She’s covered in Celtic gear. She wears her Brendan hat, her Brendan scarf.
“Her son came up to me not so long ago and said, ‘ Thank you so much, you’ve given her a new lease of life.’
“That makes me as happy as picking up any trophy.”
Up here you virtually have back to back seasons so there is no real rest