Breaking News: Brendan Rodgers’ Unconventional Message to Celtic Stars Revealed
Rodgers reckons Rangers battle will stand his stars in good stead whether they are the last one standing or not.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes his players will only get better from the experience of going toe-to-toe with Rangers – even if they end up on the losing side.
Rodgers is locked into a two way fight for this season’s title having been knocked off the top of the table by his rivals from Ibrox as the two sides hurtle towards the final stretch. The champions face a visit from Dundee in Glasgow tonight while Philippe Clement takes his team to face disruptors Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, looking to protect a two point lead. With just eleven games left to play Rodgers believes the destiny of the championship is likely to go down to the wire. But he insists the drama and stress of going through the run-in will help accelerate Celtic’s progression in the longer term.
Asked if he believes his batch of new arrivals are mentally strong enough for the race to the line he said: “Well, whatever happens they’ve got to gain that. You can tell players and then you can show them but the greatest learning comes from the experience itself. That’s when you get the full development.
“I think this group now, being in here at this part of the season, will learn from the experience. They are going through that.
“So whatever happens this year, they are going to be better for having lived the experience because nothing can prepare you for the expectations around a club like Celtic. When you come in here, with the greatest notions to learn and develop, but it’s not until you experience that expectation to perform and win.
“Big Adam Idah has said it himself – about the intensity of having to win every game. He’s won nine games and drawn two and he’s still wondering what the question is! So you have to experience it. And when you experience it then you grow further.”
Rodgers admitted that Celtic’s form has been less than convincing since the start of the campaign and that his players struggled to get up to speed again at the weekend when they came from behind to finally overcome Motherwell in injury time.
Asked if this patchy form is a consequence of the situation at the top of the table he responded: “I’m not sure. I don’t think so. I’ve been up here before when we’ve gone to Ibrox knowing if we lost the game we were maybe three points or six points behind. But we still played with freedom, quality and fight.
“But we cannot allow ourselves to overthink it. I think that’s what’s key. I think we just have to play our game and that’s the constant messaging.
“The players are absolutely giving their all. They might not have been at their best but they’re giving their best. There’s absolutely no doubt about that.
“And, like I say, we have some really important players working their way back who can really make the difference for us over these next few weeks. Hopefully you see the level grow again.”
And Rodgers believes the return to full fitness of defensive stalwart Cameron Carter-Vickers could turn out to be a key factor going into the final stretch. He said: “He’s been very important for this team. He just knows football – he knows the game.
“I always say the centre back position is arguably the one position in the pitch where you have two players but it is one position. When you see what he does when he comes in, he stabilises Liam Scales or whoever he’s been playing with.
“He spent two years virtually playing with Starfelt and they had a great connection, great speed. Very little got in behind them.
“If you’re not having to run in behind so much then it means you’re on the attack more. But, too often this season, he hasn’t been there, so teams have maybe been getting up the sides a little bit more.
“Having him back really solidifies that and gives confidence to the team. It’s really important for us to keep him fit.”