“I thought it was a poor game, if I’m being brutally honest,” Brendan Rodgers

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The Celtic Star

·31 August 2025

“I thought it was a poor game, if I’m being brutally honest,” Brendan Rodgers

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media at Ibrox after the goalless draw against theRangers that maintains Celtic’s six points lead over the latest Ibrox club who are still waiting for their first win in the Scottish Premiership this season…

Brendan Rodgers at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Brendan, how do you reflect on that today?

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Brendan Rodgers: “I thought it was a poor game, if I’m being brutally honest. The positive for us being we haven’t given away much over the course of pre-season, and today I don’t think we had a shot against us on target (today). So defensively, we’ve been good and solid and showed lots of endeavour, which is great. But the actual quality in the game was not at the level I’d expect a Celtic team to be. So that was a disappointment, but I felt overall, the quality of the game wasn’t at a high enough level.”

Brendon Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Why do you think the team may have been quite blunt today, and in those two legs against Kairat as well?

Brendan Rodgers: “Sadly, it’s about the profile of player. I think that it’s very clear on that. As I said, we’re getting lots of work, guys are working well and working hard. And sometimes in teams, whenever you don’t quite have that feeling going into a game that you can score goals, and like we were this period last year, which was plentiful. So the team then goes in with a different energy and a different feeling, which then sparks everything off and brings that energy and that real game attitude that you want. When you’re lacking that, then that’s sometimes what you get.”

Celtic supporters at Ibrox ahead of kick-off. theRangers v Celtic, 31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Brendan, you seldom see a Celtic team, one of your teams, play the ball backwards as much as Celtic did. Is that part of that whole thing?

Brendan Rodgers: “Aye, it’s when you stop taking the risk. Of course, we’re missing some players, but in the meantime, when you feel that your top end of the pitch and your front players can get you goals, then you get the ball through nice and quickly and that speed of it. That wasn’t quite today. We were a bit safe and playing it sideways or backwards, and that’s not our idea of football.”

Celtic supporter arrives at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: So that wasn’t a plan; there wasn’t a plan to contain? Just the way the game worked?

Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t think you go into a game as a Celtic manager and say, ‘right, pass the ball sideways or backwards’. It’s never been a plan for any offensive team or club. So no, it definitely wasn’t the plan.”

Miovski dives at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: How disruptive were your preparations, given all the things in the background with the transfer window and Adam (Idah) up and down the road and all that stuff?

Brendan Rodgers: “In terms of all of that, you just have to narrow in your focus on what you can control. Of course, it’s not been ideal for Adam and for the club, but we still have to look beyond that. I think it’s very, very clear what we’ve needed and what we need. Hopefully, in the next 24 hours, we can do that. Because like I say, that was a hard watch.”

John Souttar of theRangers scores past Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic during the Premier League match between Rangers and Celtic but it’s ruled out for offside at Ibrox Stadium on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: I’m guessing the next 24 hours are going to be big, Brendan, in terms of what you want to achieve this season?

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, yeah, I feel it is. It’s something that has been so clear, what the team has needed and what’s required. And I really hope that in this period we can do that. Because like I say, Celtic’s DNA is around about their attacking intent, mentality and that bit of quality, and you arrive into the final third and you’re creating chances. 12 months ago, the dynamism in the team and the speed and the creativity, everything was there, and you feel you can go into games and be really dynamic and creative, and that’s what we all want to see. So when it’s a wee bit like that there today, then it’s not a great watch.”

theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Is today a bit of a warning then that unless the business is done in the next 24 hours, this is kind of what’s going to be the fallback position?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, listen, we’ve had a period of time, so we’ve had a long time to reinforce the squad and listen, I’m hopeful that we can do that, and get it over the line. The game is about the quality of your players. You can take the game to different levels based on your players. But it’s my responsibility to try and maximise what I can get out of the players that will be here. Hopefully, we can get that competition in the team and reinvigorate some of the players that have been here for a long time. Because, as you say, they’ve been here for four years, guys like Daizen, they need competition.”

Daizen Maeda gets treatment. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Do you understand people being confused or surprised that you’re in this position with only 24 hours of the window to go?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, but as I said, we can assess it at the end of the window. I repeat again that every coach and manager wants the players in early to embed them in and adapt to the systems and styles, and get that profile of player that we need. We’re hopeful that we can do our work in this next period.

Brendon Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: In terms of Adam, Brendan, fans are wondering why Adam was allowed to even travel to Swansea, not being in the match-day squad, without a replacement coming in. Can you understand their amusement or bemusement at that?

Brendan Rodgers:“No, I’ve got no explanation for it. I think that it’s not Adam’s fault or anything. Hopefully, that will be cleared up by today.

Q: Do you expect him to still be a Celtic player come the end of the window tomorrow?

Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t know.”

Celtic players acknowledge the Celtic support. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: You said he wouldn’t be allowed to leave unless you had those guarantees that he would be replaced. Have you had those guarantees yet that he would be replaced?

Brendan Rodgers: “I haven’t spoken to anyone since we left yesterday. We left and have been in the hotel preparing for the game, and obviously, nothing today. So I’ll pretty much get an update on where we’re at once we leave here.

Q: Is Kasper Dolberg a player who could potentially replace Adam if he is to leave?

Brendan Rodgers: “There are lots of names that are out there. So, I think from our perspective, we just need that quality and speed in the team and the creativity. That’s key for us.”

Q: Is that the type of player, the profile of player you think that could do well at Celtic, someone like Kasper Dolberg?

Brendan Rodgers: “I’m over 800 games in. I don’t fall for them.”

Michel-Ange Balikwisha. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: What did you make of Balikwisha’s contribution? He was sort of thrown in at the deep end.

Brendan Rodgers: “No, no, he was thrown in at the deep end. It’s a tough one, but in terms of wingers, he goes in and he shows some nice touches and he shows nice balance. Once he gets up to the speed and the aggression and everything that we need, I think he’s going to be a really good player for us. So, yeah, tough game to come in away at Ibrox, but yeah once he gets that real positivity in his game, he’ll hopefully do well.”

Djeidi Gassama of theRangers is challenged by Kieran Tierney of Celtic during the match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Just to ask you about Kieran Tierney as well, obviously had 70 minutes, and that’s his ceiling at the moment. Do you expect that to change after the international break, or are there concerns about where he is at the moment (fitness wise)?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think it has to. That’s the reality of it, but we knew there was going to be a period of adaptation from the challenges that he’s had over the last couple of years or so. But yeah, there’s no doubt I believe that will come. But in the meantime, he’s there and he’s working and playing and obviously because of the little bit of history of the injuries, then we’re just making sure with him. I’m pretty sure that will end over a period of time, where it just might be tiredness rather than thinking that you’re maybe going to be re-injured. But yeah, it’s something that we will do (increase his minutes) over time.”

Here’s Brendan’s post match media conference from Ibrox as posted on You Tube by (the)Rangers Review…

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