Celtic boss admits he was too hasty in dropping Craig Gordon
● Celtic manager Rodgers admits he may have been too hasty in handing the gloves to new signing De Vries
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted he may have made an error by dropping Craig Gordon from his team last month as the Scotland international goalkeeper prepares to make his Champions League group stage debut against Manchester City tonight.
Gordon lost his place in the Celtic side shortly after Rodgers signed Dutch veteran Dorus de Vries, who previously played under him for Swansea City.
De Vries, who was still recovering from an ankle injury when he joined the Scottish champions from Nottingham Forest, was regarded as more suited to Rodgers’ style of play which demands that his goalkeeper is comfortable with the ball at his feet.
But the 35-year-old has failed to convince during his five appearances since ousting Gordon from the number one spot, conceding 12 goals so far – a tally which includes the 7-0 defeat Celtic suffered against Barcelona in the Nou Camp two weeks ago in their opening Group C fixture.
De Vries suffered a chest injury and was replaced at halftime in Saturday’s 6-1 Premiership win over Kilmarnock, in which he was beaten by a 44-yard shot by Souleymane Coulibaly.
Rodgers has confirmed that Gordon will play tonight as Celtic attempt to re-energise their Champions League campaign against in-form English Premier League leaders City at Parkhead.
The Northern Irishman said: “Craig and I had a really good chat when I was going to make the change of goalkeeper last month.
“I maybe made the change too early. Dorus was injured and he’d come back. Maybe I pushed him in too early, to try and impose the way we want to work. So I take that responsibility.
“Dorus has trained the last couple of days but isn’t 100 per cent fit. There is no need to take a risk for this game when I’ve got an outstanding goalkeeper beside him. So Craig will play.”
For 33-year-old Gordon, it will be the fulfilment of a career-long ambition which first saw him miss out on Champions League group stage football when part of the
Hearts side eliminated in the qualifying rounds ten years ago.
Rodgers believes Gordon will be stronger mentally for the experience of the past few weeks which had appeared to place his future at Celtic in doubt.
“I think if you speak to him now he will probably say that,” added Rodgers. “It has taken him that time to come out of the team and assess the types of ideas we are looking to implement.
“He has been brilliant since I’ve come in. I haven’t seen real change in how he has been, but I think he comes back a better goalkeeper.
“He has done great for the club since he’s come in two years ago, considering where he was at before then with injury.
“I’ve got really good goalkeepers. Craig is someone who wants to improve, which is great. He’s a great fellow.
“You have to recognise and acknowledge with players that it’s difficult for them when they are left out. But the bottom line is we have to win games and Craig and I looked at areas we think he can improve.
“He’s gone away with goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods and when he’s come into training he’s been absolutely brilliant, taking it on board.
“It’s given him a determination and when you’re fighting for your place it allows you to perform better and focus. He has been absolutely first class.”
Meanwhile, captain Scott Brown wants Celtic to demonstrate their Champions League credentials against Manchester City.
Having lost their opening match 7-0 to Barcelona, he said: “We’ve got to get that out of our mind early. This is where this club deserves to be and we need to show we’re good enough to be in the competition and not just going to be in last place.
“We play against the best players in the world in the Champions League and that’s why we want to be in it.
“We need to show how good we are individually and as a team. If we can prove a point tomorrow night that will be good for us.”