Manager: Our performance wasn't at the level we expect | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers has rarely tasted defeat in a Glasgow derby, having won 16 and drawn three of the previous 20 matches he’d neem involved in as Celtic manager.

The 3-0 loss today (Thursday) is only the second time he’s lost this fixture, and speaking to Celtic TV after the match, he admitted it had been a really disappointing performance from his side.

“We made too many mistakes with the ball,” he said. “We’re normally precise and crisp with our passing and get through the pitch well, but we were so loose, even under no pressure, kicking the ball out, misplacing passes, giving it away to easy, and that obviously culminates in the first goal.

“I thought we started the first few minutes how we wanted to, pressuring them in their half, but then we gave away a really disappointing goal, which gives the stadium a lift and gives their players a lift because they haven’t beaten us in such a long time. So they’ve then got something to hang on to.

“We weren’t very good with the ball. We lacked aggression, we lacked the quality with it and it’s something we need to analyse and look at, and be better.”

The Hoops will quickly return to action this weekend when they play host to St Mirren, and the Celtic manager will be looking for his side to get back to winning ways.

“It’s a disappointing game but thankfully we have a quick game to come afterwards,” he said, “but we need to analyse today because that wasn’t what we would want in a performance level.

“I didn’t feel after the first half that we could be any worse in the second half. I’m not sure it improved so much, if I’m honest.

“I’ve been behind here before so I know what it’s like to come back, but we didn’t show anywhere near enough in order to do that, so we just have to accept it and then look to be better come the weekend.”