Rodgers’ record-breakers are the best of British
Celtic break their 100-year record and proud Rodgers salutes his history Bhoys
BRENDAN RODGERS marked his 400th match as a manager by leading Celtic to break their own 100-year British record of 62 games without defeat.
The ex-Reading, Watford, Swansea and Liverpool boss watched his side breeze to an emphatic victory at St Johnstone, thanks to goals from Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele, a Steven Anderson own goal and Olivier Ntcham.
Rodgers spoke of his pride at creating history in beating Willie Maley’s 1917 achievement and stressed there was much more to come from the group beyond the landmark of unbeaten game No63.
‘It’s important players have goals and targets to achieve,’ he said. ‘This was never a destination for us. We wanted to achieve it, of course, but we have to keep moving forward.
‘This cycle we’re in, we want to really dominate. I
said when I came in we’re winning titles, playing an aggressive attacking style and the players are doing that.
‘But we won’t get carried away. It’s a great achievement but there’s a lot of work for us to do.
‘I remember getting the champagne when we beat the 50-year record of 26 before. I looked at it in my office and thought: “What an achievement that is by the team”. And now I have one for 63, the squad deserve all the credit they get.
‘You could never have said coming in here that we would do this. Going back to that team Willie Maley had, people of my age will be aware of guys like Patsy Gallacher. That was a great team with great players, who achieved so much.
‘For us to go beyond them and make it 63 games unbeaten is a special feeling.
‘It was important to win and important to play with a speed and intensity. I congratulated them on that and achieving what they have done.’
St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright, linked with the vacant Dundee United job, pledged that his men would overcome a form slump that has seen them pick up one point out of 18 without finding the net.
‘We’re on a difficult run but we’ve had difficult runs like this before and I believe the squad’s good enough to get out of it,’ he said.
On the scale of Celtic’s achievement, Wright stated a firm belief that the run was all down to the excellence of Rodgers and his men — and did not reflect negatively on the standard of their domestic rivals.
Wright said: ‘Not one of my players would get anywhere near the Celtic squad. That’s not being detrimental to them, it’s just how strong Celtic are.
‘They’ve got quality and the right work ethic, which is always a good combination, so they’re in a very strong position.’
Wright was the No 1 target of Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson two years ago in his manager search, only for Saints to tempt their boss into staying.
United’s fruitless attempts thus far to replace Ray McKinnon have led Wright to come under consideration again for an ambitious raid.
However, Wright said: ‘Since I’ve won the (Scottish) Cup, there has been speculation and I’ve been linked with other clubs, but I’m still here. It’s all news to me. There’s absolutely nothing in it.’