His Hoops light up displayoffirepower
The Hoops’ best might not be good enough
then curled a right-foot shot in off the underside of the crossbar.
It was a stunning score, reminiscent of the sort of goals with which Moussa Dembele used to light up Celtic Park, and it had been coming.
Ryan Christie had one effort saved by Bobby Zlamal then, minutes later, fired another just wide of the keeper’s right-hand post.
One brings two is a well-known phrase in cricket to denote the quick fall of wickets and it proved true here with Hearts conceding a rapid second with a loss of concentration.
From Calum Mcgregor’s corner, Filip Benkovic was allowed to dart in to the front post and leap unchallenged.
His decent contact with his head gave him his first goal for the club.
By half-time it was three. Kieran Tierney sent an inviting cross just inside the Hearts six-yard line and Edouard darted in and stabbed out a foot to grab his second of the day.
In the second half, the French striker turned provider when rolling a pass into the feet of James Forrest.
With his back to goal, the latter still had plenty to do but he was clearly in the mood to do plenty and he spun in a tight circle before shooting with precision into the far corner.
A terrific 25-yard effort from Hearts substitute Ben Garuccio which fairly fizzed past Craig Gordon deserved to earn his side a consolation, but to the Celtic keeper’s delight it struck the base of his far post and came straight back out again.
Craig Wighton’s foul on Forrest gave Ryan Christie the chance to tie a bow on the result from the penalty spot and he accepted it gratefully, slotting home for 5-0. to get on with it. But a win on Thursday keeps us alive.
“We know it’s difficult, but we go into the game with a confidence, and it’s about imposing our way of playing. And if we can do that and are really aggressive, then we’ll always have a chance with that support behind us.”
The underlying story, of course, is of Celtic being handicapped in Europe this season by the failures of the summer.
Moussa Dembele departed, John Mcginn became the one that got away when leaving for Aston Villa and Dedryck Boyata effectively downed tools.
“It wasn’t an ideal summer. I don’t want to keep harping on about it, but we lost a number of players,” said Rodgers.
“We were probably all frustrated in the summer after the Double Treble and two Champions Leagues.
“You always hope that you can replace. If you don’t, you are at a different start point then. That’s where we were in the summer.
“We built for two years and, then, we change. It changes. Now, for me, probably, I see that a lot clearer in terms of actually where it is at.
“We were growing and developing from the first year in the Champions League to the second, where we came out of the group and went into the Europa.
“We would love to say that you keep that group of players together and you add those few bits of quality. But, of course, you are losing big quality.
“Naturally, when you lose players, which every manager here has always done, you have to try to find a way to keep moving on.
“For me, I’ve seen strides in individual players and that is what I look at. The team.
“I am here and happy in my work and my life. I know what the constraints are.
“My duty is to the fans. To give them the best team we possibly can. Whether that satisfies some who think we can win the Champions League or win the Europa League, I don’t know.
“I’ve always said that you can never satisfy everyone.”
■ RB Leipzig have suffered a major blow ahead of their trip to Scotland after wide man Emil Forsberg was ruled out with a groin strain.
And there is also a doubt over Jean-kevin Augustin. 58 6 2
9 0 0
Possession
10 Shots on target 1 7 Shots off target 2
Corners Offside
Fouls Cautions Sending- of fs 14 3
ref WATCH: John Beaton
kept his calm, booking only Hearts trio Sean Clare, Peter Haring and Michael Smith STAR MAN
Deployed in front of the Celtic backline, he had a terrific game.
TURNING POINT
42 2 1 0
Callum mcgregor.
@Celticfc