BRENDAN’S STEIN MESSAGE MOTIVATED CELTIC
CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers evoked the spirit of Jock Stein and his late father Malachy as he savoured his first victory over Rangers, a thumping 5-1 win that coincided with the anniversary of both men’s deaths.
Rodgers revealed that he had mentioned Stein, who died 31 years ago, in his pre-match team talk prior to an inspired performance that featured a stunning hat-trick from striker Moussa Dembele, selected to start the match in place of the injured Leigh Griffiths.
Dembele’s treble was the first league hat-trick in this fixture since Stevie Chalmers hit three in 1966, the year before the same player struck the winning goal for Stein’s team in the European Cup Final in Lisbon.
Rodgers bore a broad grin as he saluted the supporters at the end of a victory that leaves his team two points clear with a 100-per-cent record at the top of the Premiership.
But there was a discernible catch in his voice as he articulated the significance of what had been achieved in his maiden Old Firm match.
‘I spoke about Jock Stein in my team talk,’ said the former Liverpool boss. ‘There were two (anniversaries) today. My father is five years dead today, so it was ironic we scored five goals.
‘And, obviously, Jock Stein was 31 years today. One of his quotes talks about how football is only ever about getting the two points as back then that’s what you got for winning.
‘I said for us it’s about getting the three points but when you beat one of your rivals, it’s a wee bit sweeter. That was the message.
‘But it was primarily about the guy looking down, the man who set the tone for this club, the template. We said that if he is looking down, make sure we do him proud.’
It’s near enough certain that Stein would indeed have endorsed a high-tempo performance which saw Celtic summarily dismantle their visitors, their performance dipping only either side of half-time as a Joe Garner goal gave Mark Warburton’s side brief hope.
Born in the sleepy Northern Irish village of Carnlough and raised a Celtic supporter, Rodgers was fully engaged with the significance and context of yesterday’s match, the first since the Ibrox side’s promotion to the top flight after four years in the wilderness.
Embarrassingly knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Warburton’s team in April, Celtic perhaps needed this victory to fully flush away any residual apathy from the final months of Ronny Deila’s reign.
Rodgers has already taken the club back to the Champions League group stage and, as he prepares to fly to Spain for the Group C opener against Barcelona, he can reflect on another significant stride taken by his evolving team.
‘You can see the development,’ continued Rodgers. ‘There was a bad feeling after the loss at Hampden but today we were dominant. We showed lots of great traits.
‘The occasion was everything I expected and more. It was a beautiful day. The supporters were incredible and lifted the team.
‘When I came in here early, I said they need to understand the model in terms of how we want to play and I think you can see them starting to get a feel for what we are doing.
‘Every supporter loves a team that works tirelessly and hard. They got that today and the players got their reward because they have quality.
‘It was a special occasion to be on the winning side.’
Although Dembele’s first-half double was reward for a period of measured dominance, the Garner goal did temporarily change the complexion of the game. Seven minutes after half-time, Rodgers opted to change his team, replacing Tom Rogic with Stuart Armstrong — a player who had appeared to be drifting out of the picture yet went on to score a goal that may prove a turning point in his Celtic career.
‘My reading of the game was that we really dominated the first half,’ continued Rodgers. ‘We then switched off before half-time and that gave them a little bit of oxygen.
‘They started the first 10 minutes of the second half quite well and if I think I need to change anything, I don’t wait. I just do it. I felt spaces were starting to open up centrally and I had to keep the team compact.
‘Tom Rogic has been to Australia in the last two weeks, then played a game in Dubai, so I felt I was going to only get 55 minutes to an hour out of him. I said to Stuart Armstrong on Friday “make sure you’re ready” because I felt he could make a real impact. He maybe went
on earlier than I thought but I felt we needed more energy to press the game and break forward. And it worked out quite well.
‘What we saw today was the spirit within this team. All footballers want to play and, although Scott Sinclair has come up with another goal, the two guys who have really come up trumps for us today have been on the sides a little bit.
‘At this early stage, it’s been about finding out what is Stu’s best position. I know he has worked off the left, the right and from centrally as a two. For me, his best position is in the No 10 position where he has the energy to press the game and break forward.
‘So I’m delighted for him. He should feel good after his contribution.’
Rodgers added: ‘We were very prepared for the game. We had to be because I think Mark has done an excellent job with Rangers and how he gets the team to play.
‘But in every aspect of the game I thought we were excellent. Our aggression and our pressing high up the pitch were very good.
‘We showed really good tactical discipline as a team today and this will give confidence to the players.
‘It’s still very early. We have won four out of four and although today is always special for the supporters and the club, it’s over now.’
Next for Rodgers is a trip to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona in the Champions League.
Stein would most definitely approve of that.