The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Wounded Celtic aim to get back on track
Brendan Rodgers admits Celtic’s pride suffered a blow in midweek and is looking for a response against Ross County today.
The Hoops’ comprehensive 5-0 defeat by Paris St Germain in their Champions League opener on Tuesday was their heaviest at home in a European competition.
The Scottish champions, however, remain unbeaten on the domestic front since May 2016, and Rodgers wants to get back to winning ways in the Ladbrokes Premiership clash against the Staggies at Celtic Park.
“Your professional pride hurts,” said the Northern Irishman, referring to the PSG game. “We are used to winning games and we are used to, I suppose, inflicting that type of performance on opponents.
“That is a setback against one of the great teams but the beauty is that you learn from that, that is key and we have always shown that.
“The players were great in training and very focused on their next game.
“You are always preparing for the next game in football. You have a disappointment but very quickly you are on to your next game.
“It is still very early on in the season but we have started the league campaign very well.”
Callum McGregor hopes Celtic’s response to their harsh European lesson is as positive as it was following last season’s Catalan calamity.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who this week signed a new contract until 2021, referred back to the 7-0 thrashing by Barcelona at the start of the 2016/17 tournament which was the Glasgow club’s heaviest defeat in Europe.
Although Rodgers’ side finished bottom of their section the Hoops fought out three morale-boosting draws – two against Manchester City and one against Borussia Monchengladbach – and went on to win the domestic treble without losing a game.
McGregor said: “You saw the Barcelona game last season, we came back and were a lot stronger as a group and kicked on in the league and cups and we will be hoping there will be a similar effect this season.
“You try to take the little positives and we will be stronger as a group for that.”
Kolo Toure has been handed the title of technical assistant at the club, with Celtic stating he would be “supporting on all first-team coaching matters, as well as using his knowledge, experience and expertise to assist across the club’s various youth levels”.