Confident Brendan Rodgers has urged his Celtic critics to evaluate him in January following the disappointing Champions League performance in Dortmund, using a phrase from his go-to playbook.
Celtic aims to recover from the 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund when they take on Ross County on Sunday. The heavy loss has significantly impacted their Champions League momentum as they seek to advance to the knockout stage. Manager Rodgers must address the fallout as the Hoops strive to maintain their perfect domestic season against Don Cowie’s side. However, he has faced criticism from fans and analysts for the inflexible tactics used at the Westfalenstadion.
When asked about the criticism that he is “too stubborn or naive” for top European competition, Rodgers responded to Sky Sports: “I have no response. Some people are paid to criticize, and that’s completely fine.”
“We conceded goals and mixed in we could have been better with the ball. I think we got spooked a little bit, like I said after the game, early in the game. But these things happen. I don’t dwell on it.
“It’s something in all your life and professional career you will have set-backs, even in your personal life you will have set-backs, but the idea is really to bounce back and have that ability to learn from it. Every challenge you do meet in football, especially if it’s a defeat, is a chance to grow. That is what I see this as.
“So my experience tells me we will look at – which we have done – and have the chance to show that resilience and get back to what we had been doing, which was playing brilliant football and exciting football, scoring goals. Then, judge us in the Champions League in January once we have played our eight games.”
Rodgers has frequently emphasized the idea of being judged when it counts during his two tenures at Parkhead. In his first stint, Celtic began the 2018/19 season on a shaky note after their Double Treble triumph in the previous two seasons.
They confronted a tough challenge in the Europa League and were six points behind Hearts in the league. Following a loss to RB Salzburg, he stated: “We’ll keep working. If there’s a message, it’s: ‘Judge us in May.’ No one is panicking here.”
Although Rodgers was not the Celtic manager by May, his record stayed intact. After Neil Lennon stepped in following his move to Leicester City, the club secured another Treble, and Rodgers also guided the team through the Europa League group stage.
Last season, after being reintroduced as manager, the Celtic boss notably referenced the calendar. Addressing a small crowd at Parkhead, he assured the skeptics that he would “see them here in May.”
The daring prediction could have gone wrong, with Rangers challenging the champions fiercely in their title defense. However, Rodgers ultimately celebrated another championship victory. After securing the trophy, he addressed fans outside the stadium, saying: “I stood here a year ago with about 200 people. I said I’d see you back here in May… and we have quite a few more than 200 now, fantastic!”
But will he be vindicated this time around? With six matches left in the league phase, it’s anticipated that a total of 10 points will be necessary to ensure progression. Despite the pressure, the Irishman exudes optimism about Celtic’s chances of leaving their mark in the competition. He believes that the team’s potential and determination can lead them to success as they strive to achieve their goals.
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