Rodgers blasts critics as Celts close in on title
BRENDAN RODGERS took a swipe at his critics after this win against Rangers left his Celtic side on the brink of celebrating a third successive Premiership title.
Matt O’Riley’s opener and John Lundstram’s own goal saw the Parkhead side open up a two-goal advantage before Cyriel Dessers pulled one back for the visitors.
And the day got much worse for Lundstram, who was shown a red card for an X-rated lunge on Alistair Johnston before the break to gift Celtic a one-man advantage for the second half. It meant Celtic could close out a victory that sees them six points and seven goals better off than Rangers with two games remaining.
Celtic can win the title with a point at Kilmarnock on Wednesday – or if Rangers slip up at home to Dundee the previous night – and even though the job isn’t mathematically done, Rodgers wasted no time berating pundits who questioned his appetite for the job. ‘I was surprised to hear somebody say that I was going through the motions. I get to work between half seven and eight o’clock every morning, and I leave the training ground between half six and seven o’clock at night.
‘When I get home, I have my dinner and then look at more football. If that’s going through the motions, I want to know what every other manager is doing.’
Rodgers was adamant that this season’s Old Firm dominance – they have taken 10 points from a possible 12 off their bitter rivals – means they will be worthy champions.
‘It’s a significant win. We’re not over the finishing line yet, but to be six points clear with only two games to go and plus six goals – we’re in a really good place.’
While Celtic celebrated, Rangers’ Belgian boss Philippe Clement was raging at Lundstram’s ill-judged foul, which saw the former Sheffield United player dismissed and the away side on the ropes for half of the match.
‘I don’t want to see that type of tackle anywhere on the pitch,’ Clement said.
Meanwhile, Celtic are lining up Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton to replace former England keeper Joe Hart, who is retiring at the end of the season.
Walton, 28, is out of contract at Portman Road and was given a standing ovation when he replaced Czech keeper Vaclav Hladky in the final minute of their last game against Huddersfield, which saw them clinch promotion to the Premier League.
Hart, 37, who has 75 England caps, announced that he is hanging up his gloves this summer following three successful years at Celtic after signing from Spurs.