“I’m obsessed with us really working hard. The pressing, the aggression,” Brendan Rodgers | OneFootball

A delighted Celtic manager spoke to the media and also Celtic TV after today’s impressive 3-0 win at Fir Park against Motherwell which allowed his team to go back to the top of the league…

Brendan Rodgers talks to Celtic TV after Celtic’s 3-0 win at Fir Park against Motherwell. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

All things considered this was an excellent performance from the Champions. With Callum McGregor dropping out of the side through an injury scare with his hip, Paulo Bernardo came in to play the number six role. After an early scare the Portuguese star came onto a game.

Alistair Johnston had the armband and scored with a fine header to double Celtic’s lead after Luke McCowan turned the game away from Motherwell with and excellent strike to open the scoring after Motherwell had hit Celtic woodwork twice in those rocky opening stages.

Motherwell hit the post. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Motherwell hit the bar. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Adam Idah also hit the woodwork, deflecting off fellow substitute Nicolas Kuhn before the German turned proved for the big Irish striker to score and in doing so get  The Celtic Star’s 3-0 scoreline prediction up yet again.

It should have bene four though as Daizen Maeda was punished for handball to disallow a goal while he was claiming for a penalty for a push. Willie Collum has a few weeks to come up with som plausible explanation for that one. Daizen just looked on with a wry smile. What must he tell folk back in Japan about these decisions?

Daizen Maeda is brought down in front of the Motherwell goal. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Here’s Brendan’s take on it all, although given the scoreline and the excellent performance at a difficult venue, he didn’t dwell on the penalty being denied by VAR in the most mysterious of circumstances.  That anti-Celtic clown will be on Sky Sports tomorrow telling us it was the correct call….

Brendan’s thoughts on the game

Luke McCowan opens the scoring for Celtic at Fir Park, Motherwell. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“I’m absolutely delighted to come here on the back of a game during the week where there was a big exertion, a big physicality. Motherwell away has always been a tough game, so to finish 3-0 – and it could have been more convincing by the end if we had been a bit more clinical – overall the players have done amazing.

“First half we needed to switch the ball more. We got stuck on one side of the pitch and kept coming back in. When you play against 5-3-2, you’ve got to switch it more. When we’d done that in the first half, the opportunities and spaces opened up for us. That’s where the first goal came from.

Luke McCowan celebrates his goalPhoto Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“At half-time, we were just about reinforcing a couple of defensive items, so in the second half, it was just about managing the game and managing the ball better. I thought we did that really well.”

Fir Park – A tough place to come

Alistair Johnston scores for Celtic at Fir Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“We played well. We got through the pitch well. Once we’d broken the press, we just needed to connect the game a little more and play one more pass, and that would have given us more opportunities. But we still created a lot. The game management was very, very good. We kept them running, kept them stretched and kept them working. And then the opportunities opened up for us really well.

Alistair Johnston is congratulated by his teammates. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Celtic’s strength in depth

“I’ve told all the players that they all have a role to play: don’t ever think it’s just about the XI, because with how we work, and with the number of games, the energy we have to put into games, they all know they have a big contribution to make. We were able to rest Arne, who’s come in as a young player and played so many games, the distance he covered in midweek was huge. Having the ability to be able to do that, I’m very grateful to the club for getting the players in that allow us to do that.”

Adam Idah scores. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

The Callum McGregor injury situation

“It shouldn’t be too serious. I got the call late last night, and with the number of games he’s played over the years, I think it was really sensible as well. It was really mature, because maybe before he might not have mentioned it. He had a wee feeling after the training session yesterday. And then I got to find out, and we said let’s see how he is in the morning.

“Rather than take any risk with it, we didn’t want to put him on to maybe stretch it and then be out for a number of weeks. So, hopefully, he’ll be fine over these next few days, and if not Wednesday, then hopefully he should be fine for next weekend.”

Luke McCowan living his best life

Luke McCowan celebrates his goal with James Forrest.Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“I’m so happy for him. As a Celtic supporter coming in, maybe there’s that enthusiasm first of all, but then that wears off. But he performs with great energy and a great passion for the game, and he has quality. Callum wasn’t going to play, so the idea was to bring him in because he’s a goal threat, and I thought he was going to do really well. You see that in every game he plays, he looks like he can create goals or score a goal. So, I’m delighted for him, and all those players that are coming in and playing a very important role in it.”

Back-to-back clean sheets

“I think that defensively, I’m obsessed with us really working hard. The pressing, the aggression, the first balls, the second balls, these are all the things that are important in the game. Celtic’s a club that’s not just about winning, you have to win in a certain style, but in order to do that, you have to be able to do the dirty bit. These players are consistently doing that. It’s a great credit to all the physicality they put into the games to get blocks, and to keep that clean sheet.”

Adam Idah injury update

Adam Idah celebrates his goal. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“To be fair to the player, I don’t think he’s tried to do him. The problem is when you leave the ground and he’s just rocked his ankle a bit. Adam couldn’t feel it initially. But then he was ok – obviously, the goal helped. He’ll probably have a wee bit of swelling, I would say.”

Leaders throughout the team

“I think it’s one of the things with this squad, they are a very honest group, a very open group. They all know what it means to play for Celtic. They all know how vital it is that you take that lead role when you come in to play. Ali got a great goal and he was really inspirational in his performance.

“You look at Scales, and Auston Trusty as well, they were really strong. And Alex Valle, he’s just turned 20 years of age, he’s coming in and starting to play a lot of games now. So, yes, it goes right the way through the team. A lot of the modern leaders now, they’re not like the old ones. They’re very communicative and speak a lot. I’m very lucky to have that in my changing room.”

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