SLUMP MAY LAST ALL SEASON
But Rodgers is hell-bent on fixing it
BRENDAN RODGERS admits Celtic are nowhere near the heights they have set for themselves over the last two years. And the Celtic boss warned fans
FROM BACK PAGE the slump might last for an entire season.
Rodgers aired his growing concerns after the champions laboured to a 1-0 Europa League win over Rosenborg on Thursday night thanks to a late winner from sub Leigh Griffiths.
The manager must now attempt to re-energise his players ahead of tomorrow’s perilous Premiership encounter on Kilmarnock’s plastic pitch.
But Rodgers admits there has been an alarming lack of energy and dynamism about Celtic this season and fears it could continue to slow his team up as they push towards an eighth successive league crown.
He said: “I don’t think we are anywhere near the level of our game.
“The win on Thursday was probably down to spirit and persistence.
“I said last week at St Mirren even with 10 men we were dominant. But it’s just that final third.
“It’s a mixture of confidence and not being dynamic enough at times. We’re not being decisive enough in games.
“While we are not conceding – that’s five games when we’ve not conceded – you just have to keep going.
“You have to be persistent and you have to trust right to the very end that we will get the goal.”
Asked if he can put his finger on the reason for the drop in his team’s attacking tempo, Rodgers added: “I’m not sure. It’s a bit of everything really.
“We’ve lost dynamic players. We’ve had lots of games.
“We just have to continue to work hard on the training field and win games like the other night when you’re not at your best. Being able to win and not give away much is important because that helps your confidence and you grow and grow from there.
“You would hope the dynamism returns as we win more games. Absolutely.
“The squad are very honest, a brilliant bunch of boys to work with. We haven’t been as dynamic as we have been in the last couple of years.
“It might be a season for us like that but we will always find a way and try to find a solution to perform well because performing, for me, is very important.”
Since the season began Celtic have scored just five goals in five top-flight games – and three of them came in an openingday thumping of new boys Livingston.
Now Rodgers must attempt to fire new life into these players ahead of tomorrow’s game at Rugby Park against Stevie Clarke’s Killie side.
He said: “That’s what you’ve got to do. All the games you have, it’s just a case of recovering as best you can and it’s why we’ve also got a big squad.
“It will be a tough game for us at Kilmarnock – the surface, Steve’s teams are always well organised and hard to break down, counter attacking with quick players. So yes, it will be hard for us.”